We might be biased, but wine holidays are our favorite days of the year. Today is Moscato Day (and everyone's hebdomadal favorite, Wine Wednesday)!
When was the last time you had Moscato? Probably not recently enough. Some turn their nose up at the varietal saying it is too sweet. Some shy away, unsure of what to pair with the wine. Some are in a rut, always choosing the same wine no matter what. We're here to dissuade you of any misgivings you may have.
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Moscato originated in Italy, in the famous Piedmont region, best known for Barolo. Unlike some of your other favorite wines, like Pinot Grigio, Rosé, Merlot, etc. Moscato is made from Muscat grapes (Moscato is the Italian word for Muscat), a grape that is eaten regularly and also used to make raisins. This helps explain why the wine it creates is so sweet and easy to drink.
Massolino
The most common flavors you'll fine in a glass of Moscato are Meyer lemon, Mandarin orange, pear, orange blossom, and honeysuckle.
Muscat grapes are grown all over the world. Like any other varietal, you'll find variations in style and flavor profile based on where the wine was produced.
Take, for example, the Massolino Moscato d'Asti and the Bulletin Place Moscato:
- Massolino's Moscato d'Asti hails from the original home of the wine, the Piedmont region of Italy. Bulletin Place Moscato comes from down under, South Eastern Australia.
- Both have a light bubble, but the Moscato d'Asti is a bright straw yellow and the Bulletin Place Moscato is a light yellow with a green hue.
- There are over 200 (yes, 200) types of Muscat grapes. The Moscato d'Asti is made with Moscato Bianco, while the Bulletin Place is made with Muscato Gordo.
- While Moscato wines tend to have a lower alcohol percentage, it does still very. You can find the Massolino Moscato hovering around 5 to 5.5% while the Bulletin Place is slightly higher at 9%. Both are far below the average 13%.
Calabria Family Selections
Moscato is much more versatile than you might think. Some ideas for you:
- Spicy Thai or Indian dishes: the sweetness of the wine balances the heat of the food
- Cured meats, like prosciutto: the salty meat counters the sweet wine
- Sweet breakfasts: champagne isn't the only breakfast wine, moscato works well with breakfasts like pancakes or waffles that have an extra sweet touch like fruit or whipped cream.
- Fruit desserts, like cobbler or tarts: the fruit in the dessert brings out the fruit forward flavor profile of the wine.