Moscato is Here to Stay

There’s always a trending wine or three, and in recent years Moscato has certainly been on the list. Its rise has been astronomical, thanks in no small part to a slew of rappers and pop culture figures mentioning it. Sure, the wine cognoscenti might snub it as a “training wheels” wine, but beginners have to start somewhere — and this low-alcohol, sweet white wine is the perfect launchpad into the world of wine.

A Rapper’s Delight

Moscato isn’t exactly a new wine, but it has definitely found a new foothold among younger drinkers over the past decade or so. Its rise in sales can be attributed, at least in part, to stars like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Kanye West. And unlike, say, Cristal or Ace of Spades, Moscato is inexpensive. You can get a decent bottle for about the price of a sandwich. This mass appeal is exactly what the wine world needs to introduce a wide swath of people to wine.

Origins

While Moscato’s popularity may be new, its history is not. The sweet wine is derived from the Muscat family of grapes, which includes more than 200 varieties and is thought to be the oldest domesticated grape class. The grapes range in color from white (Muscat Ottonel) to yellow (Moscato Giallo) to pink (Moscato Rosa del Trentino) to near-black (Muscat Hamburg), and can be found growing all over the world in nearly every climate.

Long before Canadian artist Drake crooned about “lobster, shrimp, a glass of Moscato,” or Kanye West enlightened his fans that “Saracco Moscato, it does taste better [than Cristal],” the pinkish-colored beverage was already well established in the wine world. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the Muscat family of grapes; however, history suggests the Muscat grape’s birthplace (and consequently its namesake) was the Greek city of Moshato, located in the southwest corner of Athens. While this area is not the largest producer of Muscat varietals today, it has proven to be one of the most sustainable and dependable sources of Muscat grapes in the world.

Styles of Moscato

The most notable variation of the Muscat family is Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, or Moscato Bianco (White Muscat). Winemakers can shape it into a variety of styles: crisp and dry, slightly sweet and sparkling, or superbly rich and decadent dessert wines, such as those from the Asti region of northwestern Italy.

Moscato d’Asti is the low-alcohol, more refined version. Plain Asti (formerly Spumante) is the fully sparkling style and was described by wine writer and educator Karen MacNeil as “a non-collector’s wine if ever there was one.” All Moscato should be drunk young, as it loses much of its fresh fruit character within a few years.

Another popular Muscat variety, Muscat of Alexandria, is commonly used in the production of French vin doux naturel. The fruit can be found growing along the coast in southern France, parts of Spain, and along the Argentine coast of South America, where it is often used to fortify off-dry and sweet wines. In recent years, cross varieties of the grape have been found thriving in both Germany and Switzerland, giving life to more vibrant, heavier-bodied local and regional blends.

Flavor & Aroma

For the uninitiated, it’s easy to see why Moscato has such appeal. Compared to other wines, it delivers a basket of likable flavors—ripe peaches, apricots, melon, nectarine, and Meyer lemon — along with a certain “muskiness” (hence the name Muscat), sometimes described as dirty earth or a stale basement. Thankfully, that dank aroma takes a backseat to the enticing, fruit-forward profile.

Serving & Food Pairing

Ideally, Moscato is best chilled and served around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether you decide to enjoy it during dinner or with dessert, the goal is balance. Given Moscato’s sweetness, it pairs best with two general styles of food: sweet desserts, or spicy, salty, and bitter foods like cheese and cured meats. It also couples well with poached fish or lobster and makes a fine accompaniment to a crudité platter.

For some, pure bliss is a perfectly chilled glass of Asti with a simple gelato. Or just enjoy it as an easygoing treat on a warm day.