Moscato (AKA Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
TL; DR
Fresh, grapey, aromatic and fun whether still or slightly sparkling, Moscato is your go-to easy-drinking wine perfect for brunch, lunch and sweet treats!
So, what is Moscato all about?--red
The word 'Moscato' is the Italian name for all varieties of Muscat grape, which is traditionally used for sweeter styles of wine. The Muscat family includes over 200 grape varieties, including Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, known just as Muscat Blanc and Moscato Bianco in Italy. This particular grape is what we’re going to focus on as it’s the one that makes Moscato d’Asti and its many spin-offs around the world that we love and know simply as ‘Moscato’.
Named for its musk-like (Muskato?!) aromas, Moscato can be made as a still wine or ‘frizzante’ (slightly sparkling) but all of them are highly aromatic, grapey, fresh and fruitily sweet, and low in alcohol.
View our range and buy Moscato wine online here »
Where did Moscato originate?--cellar
Moscato, or to give its proper name Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, is of Greek origin and has been identified as being used by the Ancient Greeks, then spread by the Romans to France and then on to Italy. The ‘Petits Grains’ in the name describes its small berry size and tight bunch clusters.
It is the oldest known variety grown in Piedmont in Italy, which is funny because this region is now most famous for the red wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. Nonetheless, Moscato coming from the actual province of Asti (known as Moscato d’Asti ) has been cultivated there for hundreds of years. The frizzante style of Moscato d’Asti was invented in the 1870s by the winemakers themselves, who wanted something fresh and low in alcohol that could be drunk on their lunch breaks from the vineyards, and then at night as a digestive after their long Piedmontese multi-course dinners!
Where's Moscato most famously from?--earth
So we’ve found out that true Moscato d’Asti comes from Piedmont in Italy, but many countries produce their own version of Moscato - luckily the name Moscato itself isn’t a protected name (only when it’s Moscato d’Asti) so anyone around the world is able to use it. The US, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand produce their own juicy versions. And Muscat Blanc (AKA Moscato) is still produced in Greece’s Peloponnese region and on the island of Samos.
What does Moscato taste like?--strawberry
Floral, grapey and fresh, Moscato is a gorgeous mouthful of sweet light fruit, good acidity and musky aromas of peaches, melon, guava, lychee and the aforementioned grapey characters! Like a sweet and floral perfume you can't get enough of! With a lick of minerality and that fabulous fruity flavour, Moscato will get that party started - at least in your mouth anyway!
The semi-sparkling styles will have a light bubble too - perfect for a Sunday morning brunch!
What are the main styles of Moscato?--wines
Asti Spumante (‘sparkling Asti wine’ and not Spew-mante, thank you very much! Poor Asti Spumante) is also made from the Moscato Bianco grape, but it’s an actual sparking wine and is less sweet than Moscato. The Moscato we love has had its fermentation stopped to retain that lovely grapey sweetness - that’s why it’s low in alcohol too. See, it all makes sense now! Sort of.
And the frizzante Moscatos? Unlike Champagne, whose bubbles are produced by secondary fermentation in its own bottle, Moscato goes through what is called the ‘Charmat Method’, which is a single tank fermentation, and bottled under pressure. This allows for a much speedier process, and importantly, for those lovely fresh and grapey aromatic qualities to be captured.
What foods pair with Moscato?--pizza
Moscato is an excellent and refreshing wine to finish off a meal, as its fruity sweetness will pair extremely well with light meringue desserts and fruit-based delights, but it’s also a wonderful match with savoury food too, especially dishes containing aromatic herbs and chilli - that sweetness will actually help quell the spicy heat! Have fun with casual favourites like hot wings or cajun spiced chicken. Also look to Thai and Vietnamese food, Chinese prawn har gow dumplings, seafood and fish sashimi, crudo or ceviche-style for inspiration!
Recipe pairings for Moscato--vegan
Spicy Crab Cakes - 45 minutes, 2 servings
Chilli and peanut noodles - 10 minutes, 2 servings
Lychee and Dragon Fruit Pavlova - 90 mins, 4-6 servings
Strawberry and Balsamic Pudding - 20 minutes, 4 servings
Fun facts--eggplant
1. Muscat AKA Moscato is one of the only grapes whose aroma on the vine matches that in the glass!
2. While Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains AKA Moscato is usually a white grape, some strains of vines produce pink or red-hued berries, with the same vine potentially producing berries of one colour one year and a different colour the next!
3. Back in the ‘90s, Jay-Z used to rap about Cristal; in the Noughties, it was Busta Rhymes and Courvoisier brandy; in the last ten years Drake and his associates have been mixing the beats about Moscato… so there you go! Sweet fancy drinks are hip now, or at least hip-hop!
If you like this, you should also give these grapes a guzzle...--wines
About the Author
Melissa Moore is a competition-winning sommelier, wine writer and perpetual student of wine (currently WSET Diploma). She has a sharp palate for both wine and sandwiches, enhanced only when blaring loud dance music.