Optima [OP-tee-muh]
German white-wine variety created in the 1970s that is a cross of Müller-Thurgau and a sylvaner-riesling hybrid. Optima grapes, which tend to grow in less than choice conditions, are low in acid and high in sugar. The wines they produce can be very sweet and are generally used to boost the sugar content of other wines.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.