Why you need to change your mind about moscato

Moscato is an Italian umbrella name for wines made from one of the 200+ varieties of muscat grapes. Moscato as we know it uses moscato bianco grapes, which originate from the revered region of Piedmont in northern Italy. Moscato can be sweet or dry, still or sparkling, and white or blushed in colour. It’s classically served as an aperitif, meaning that it’s typically consumed before a meal to “open the appetite” or as a pairing for desserts. 

A good moscato isn’t cloying on the palate. There’s a difference between fruit-sweetness and sugar sweetness; just think about the difference between how a fresh strawberry feels in your mouth in comparison to an Allen’s red frog. That’s what differentiates the real deal from others that have likely had sugar added. It might seem puerile to describe a wine as having a grape character, but that’s part of what makes moscato special; it’s a flavour you don’t actually see in many wines. Moscato’s strength is in its simplicity, but if you take the time to smell and taste further, you might find notes of honey, elderflower, rosewater, lychee, jasmine, marmalade, kiwi nectar, orange blossom or ripe honeydew. In short, it’s yum!