All About Moscato

Moscato Information

Moe-ska-toe Moscato is a name given to a broad family of grapes. Wines made with Moscato grapes can come in any shape in size, from sparkling to rosé, to syrupy red dessert wines, though the most common is probably off-dry white wine. Depending on where you are in the world, you may also hear it being called Muscat, Moscatel, Moschato, Muskateller, or Misket. The history of this grape is about as patchy as the family tree itself. Some believe that its usage can be dated back to the Ancient Egyptians, while others believe Moscato was first cultivated by Romans and Greeks. It has also spread to every corner of the modern world, with top-quality Moscato wines being made all over Western Europe, Greece, Australia, the USA, South Africa, and anywhere else you can think of. Moscato is about as diverse as the world of wine itself and can be quite a complicated topic to get into. However, some common characteristics string the family together, which is what we will discuss next.

Moscato Tasting Notes

The number one thing that members of the Moscato family have in common is a strong aromatic character, with floral notes. In many white Moscato wines, you can also find slightly sweet flavours of stone fruit and tropical fruit, along with some spiciness. The rest depends on the terroir, wine-maker, and the exact type of Moscato grape that has been used. In terms of alcohol volume, unfortified Moscato wines can fall anywhere between 5 – 13%.

Moscato Styles

Moscato comes in pretty much any style that you can think of, from fortified, dessert-like reds, to sweet and sparkling whites. In this section, we’ll go over the most popular styles that you’re most likely to encounter in the wild. The wine that is most readily associated with Moscato is probably Moscato d’Asti. This is an off-dry, slightly fizzy wine produced in the Piedmont region of Italy. It typically falls between 5-10% alcohol, and features all those classic Moscato notes that we mentioned before. With a Moscato from Asti, you’ll likely get various levels of fizz, but consistent notes of peach, pear and citrus fruits. You can also find still, dryer Moscato wines across Europe, Muskateller in Germany and Austria and Moscatel in Spain, for example. These are usually made from the Muscat Blanc or Muscat of Alexandria grapes and are quite comparable to wines such as Gewurztraminer or Riesling. They can be perceived as slightly sweet, thanks to their aromatic nature and slightly sweet fruits. The final type of Moscato (that you are most likely to find) is dessert style. There are some particularly famous French Muscat’s, made in small appellations across the country such as Muscat de Rivesaltes and Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. While they are still highly aromatic, these wines depart slightly from the typical Moscato flavours, with riper notes of sweet orange, dried apricots and honey. They are also slightly fortified (around 15-17%) and show a range of different colors, from a golden honey color to a light purple. It’s also possible to find red Moscato dessert wines, which are some of the sweetest of the bunch. Moscatel Sherry from Portugal and Rutherglen Antique Muscat from Australia are amazing styles to watch out for if you have a sweet tooth.

When To Drink Moscato

Whichever style you go for, Moscato is a bit of a treat. White, semi-sparkling versions are brilliant refreshments on a summer’s day, while the rich, red dessert-style wines are ideal for drinking after a wintery dinner. You can even pour the sweet styles over a bowl of ice cream. Despite all of the difficult choices, you will find a Moscato that suits you, whatever the occasion may be. Richer styles generally taste better at room temperature, while light and white Moscato’s are ideally served at about 50 ºF (10ºC).

Best Years To Drink Moscato

How long to age Moscato depends on the style. Most of the lighter, white wine versions are made to be drunk young, so you don’t have to worry about enjoying them straight away. Meanwhile, most fortified Moscato wines, or sweet French versions like Muscat de Rivesaltes, can be cellared for a long time. Depending on how good the vintage was, fortified wines like this have been known to keep from 5 years to 100.

Moscato Average Prices

Generally speaking, you won’t have to pay more than $10-15 for a bottle of quality Moscato. If you want to enter the big leagues, a great 90+ rated bottle of Moscato will cost you about $30-50. Right now, the most you can spend on a Moscato-based wine is this Madeira dessert wine from Portugal: “D’Oliveiras Moscatel Reserva Vintage”. It’s a beautiful wine, but it will set you back about $1,300.

Moscato Nutrition Facts

A standard glass of Moscato d’Asti will contain between:

• 110-170 calories
• 10 – 16 grams of glucose

Fun Facts About Moscato

There are over 200 varieties of grape in the Moscato family. The classic floral scent of Moscato is caused by ample amounts of aromatic molecules, called “monoterpenes”. May 9th is International Moscato Day. Moscato (along with Hennessy Cognac) has become a popular wine among hip hop artists and has been name dropped by Drake, Soulja Boy, and Lil’ Kim, among others.