Did you know? Moscato is derived from the Muscat family of grapes, of which there are over 200 variations, and is thought to be the oldest wine grape. The name Muscat comes from the musky aroma these grapes possess. You may see Muscat, Muscat Canelli, Muscadine, Moscato or Moscato Bianco, and these wines will all have nearly identical flavor profiles.
Moscato is the name of the varietal as it is grown in Italy. The dominate region this grape grows is Asti, in the Piedmont area of northern Italy. In this region, the sweet wine is made with a little effervesces, or in the ‘frizzante’ style, and is often served as a dessert wine to aid in digestion. You may have heard for Asti Spumante wine, especially around the holidays in America – this is a sparkling wine made in Asti, Italy from the Moscato grape and it rivals Prosecco in popularity in their country.
Muscat grapes can be found all around the world, in all different growing conditions. You can expect a light wine with defined sweetness, rounded by flavors of Myer lemon, peaches or apricot, and an earth note (or muskiness). The wine is low in alcohol, making it an ideal lunch wine since it won’t slow down the afternoon’s work. Enjoy spicy or salty foods with these wines and the sweetness of the wine will cut the tanginess of the dish. A buttery lobster tail is an excellent pairing and you may even consider fried chicken, as these dishes have the rich texture that can be cut by the bright, light wine.
Sister Creek 2018 Muscat Canelli – Texas Hill Country ($30 bottle). Established in 1988 in the old cotton gin of the tiny town of Sisterdale, this is one of the oldest wineries in Texas. With a total population of 29 in this town, the winery is a great stop for a tasting and free tour. Their staff of 4, this provides true hands-on wine production and believes in minimal filtration to allow full flavors in all of their wines.
Angove Nine Vines 2017 Moscato – South Eastern Australia ($19 bottle) The Riverland area, in the heartland of southern Australia’s vineyard regions, offers sandy loam soil over limestone with warm, sun-filled days and cool, clear nights. These are perfect growing conditions for the Muscat family of grapes. Having an opposite growing season from much of the wine-making world, these grapes are harvested in late February. Australia is known to be a mecca of new wine technologies, and Angove uses a modern membrane tank press to coax the juice from the grape berries. Fermentation is managed under slow, cold controlled conditions to preserve the flavors of the fruit and produce a bright and vibrant finished wine.
Cantine Elvio Tintero 2017 Moscato d’Asti Sori Gramella – Piedmont, Italy ($19 bottle). Established in 1900, this family owned winery has 30 hectares in the commune of Mango. These vineyards are in the heart of Moscato country, with long, sunny days. While some of the vines are as old at 60 years, the Moscato vines are an average of 30 from the single vineyard Sori Gramella. The grapes are harvested and pressed, but then kept in a stainless tank at a cold temperature to prevent fermentation. This allows the wine maker to focus on the harvest and fermentation of other more complex grapes first, without sacrificing the quality of any of the wines. In keeping with Italian tradition and laws, no sugar is added and the sweetness of this wine comes solely from the grapes themselves.