What Are Moscato Wines And What Do You Pair Them With?

With an entire generation looking to consume low-alcohol drinks Moscato wines have seen an uptick in sales in recent years. Also helping its cause is the fact that its available for cheap wherever its available. Unfortunately, India isn’t one of the countries where you can try Moscato wines. Here’s what you need to know about this up and coming wine category.

What Are Moscato Wines?

Moscato (pronounced mo-ska-toh) is a sweet Italian wine known for its fruity notes. Made from the Muscat (no relation to the country) grape, Moscato is white wine that is generally used as a dessert wine with a hint of fizz.

Though there are some differences in the grape depending on the terroir, Moscato generally has a pretty low alcohol content at around five to seven percent. This is much lower than other white and red wines that typically have anywhere between 10 to 15% ABV. It’s low alcohol content makes Moscato a great dessert drink for casual sipping as well as a perfect after-lunch spritzer without making you boozy for the rest of the day.

5 Main Types Of Moscato Wines

The great thing about Moscato wines is that you’re not limited to choosing from one or the other colour. Indeed, there are quite a few types of Moscato wines around, some of which we’ve mentioned below.

Pink Moscato — Pink Moscato is a great variation featuring white Moscato wine made from the Muscat Blanc grape along with the addition of some Merlot. It’s varied composition lends Pink Moscato to more than just a dessert wine and it can be used as a standalone drink too.

Moscato d’Asti —  This is the most common type of Moscato wine. It’s white, sweet and slightly sparkling (it’s also known as “frizzante”), and is made from Muscat Blanc grapes. If you ask for Moscato at any establishment, chances are you’ll get Moscato d’Asti.

Red Moscato — Red Moscato is often considered as a complete package with its Moscato taste and fruity notes. It is made with black and orange Muscat grapes and is the Moscato of choice for discerning consumers.

Still Moscato — Also known as Moscatel or Muscat Blanc, Still Moscato is basically Moscato without any fizz or sparkle. Made from a different grape varietal, this is also the strongest Moscato wine with an ABV of about 12 percent.

See Also

10 Interesting Facts About Mulled Wine You Should Know

Dessert Moscato — Oak-aged Moscatos are considered Dessert Moscato. They are often sweet and come with a great reputation as dessert wines.

Tailor Made for Dessert Pairings

Sweet and sparkly Moscato is great on its own, but it’s earned a name for itself as a dessert wine where it really stands out. Any dessert featuring fruits or fruity flavours compliment Moscato wines really well. Even nuts and nuttier flavours are a great flavour combination with any given Moscato wine. Also, surprise surprise, Asian cuisine especially Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and certain spicy Indian dishes all work very well with Moscatos as the wine balances the heat of these cuisines perfectly.