When dinner’s afoot and you’re in the mood for a delicious vanilla ice cream or a delectable fruit salad, what wine do you grab? A Barefoot Moscato, of course!
Moscato is a sweeter style, white or rosé wine with a low alcohol content that pairs very well with desserts and appetizers. Moscatos are made from the Muscat grape, a table grape also used for raisins, and typically feature the sweeter flavours of peach, orange blossom and nectarine.
WHAT FOODS DO YOU EAT WITH MOSCATO?
When it comes to pairing Moscato with foods, you need to remember that its flavours are sweet with hints of orange blossom, peach, and other fruit flavours. It’s better paired with creamy desserts and fruit tarts. Moscato tastes great with caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, or coconut flavours, too. Don’t sip it with chocolate, though — the flavours are likely too rich to pair well with the wine.
For full-on meals, look no further than spicy, aromatic Chinese food. Pink Moscato has a sweet taste that controls the flavours of aromatic ginger, cardamom, and chilli peppers often found in Chinese dishes. You can also pair Moscato with lighter meats, like chicken and fish.
WHAT KIND OF CHEESE GOES WITH MOSCATO WINE?
If you’re looking for the best Moscato and cheese pairing, then you want to go with creamier cheeses. Be sure to avoid sharp flavours because they could overpower the Moscato.
Because Moscato wines tend to be on the sweet side, with hints of peach, apricot, and nectarine, they pair well with brie, gorgonzola, and soft goat cheese.
WHAT IS THE BEST MOSCATO WINE TO DRINK?
There are 3 major Moscato wine types: sparkling Moscato d’asti, still Moscato, and dessert Moscato. Which is the best depends on the pairings and when you’re drinking it.
Sparkling Moscato
Sparkling Moscato is made from Muscat Blanc grapes. This style is originally from the province of Asti, Italy, so naturally it’s called Moscato d’Asti. This sweet frizzante bubbly wine has high aromatics and light or low alcohol level.
If you’re looking to dip your toe in the pool of sparkling Moscato, then treat yourself to our delicious Bubbly Pink Moscato. With notes of berries, cherries, apples and more, it’s the perfect drink for raising a glass in celebration!
Still Moscato
A still Moscato is made from Muscat Blanc or Moscatel grapes with an alcohol content higher than most Moscatos. Barefoot’s Moscato and Pink Moscato are examples of still Moscato wines.
Our Barefoot Moscato treats the senses with some wonderful scents, from lush fruity aromas, hints of gloriously juicy peach, ripe apricots and citrus. We can’t deny it - Moscato Wine is a true crowd-pleaser!
Meanwhile our pinker, sweeter sibling of our Moscato Wine, Barefoot Pink Moscato is a perfect option for summer evenings. With scents of ripe, vibrant red fruit, mandarin and sweet jasmine and subtle notes of cherry, raspberry and pomegranate, it’s totally delicious!
Dessert Moscato
These wines are typically made with Moscatel grapes (aka Muscat of Alexandria) or Orange Muscat. These grapes tend to have a thick oily texture and a tawny colour. Dessert Moscato wines are most commonly sourced from the South of France, Southern Spain, Australia, and the U.S. Oak aging is common with these wines.
IS MOSCATO A DESSERT WINE?
Though Moscato is often sweet, its refreshing taste profile makes Moscato more than just a dessert wine. That’s why a dessert Moscato exists!
WHAT DOES MOSCATO WINE SMELL LIKE?
There’s nothing quite like smelling the sweet aromas of Moscato for the first time. Moscato offers one of the most unique scents available in modern wines, which is colloquially known as “Muscat Aroma.”
At the top, the floral aromatics in Muscat-based wines features notes of mint, lavender, citrus flowers, and cinnamon. At the base, Muscat Aroma also includes orange blossom, honeysuckle, almonds, ginger, green grapes, citrus tones, and ripe peach.
WHERE DOES MOSCATO WINE COME FROM?
Originally Moscato d'Asti hails from Italy's Northwest region of Piedmont, an area that also birthed the famous Barolo wine.
Barefoot Moscato is made in California by our award-winning winemaker Jen Wall. Our wines carry the honour of being the most-awarded still and sparkling wines in U.S. competitions. All said, the wines have received more than 2,000 medals, countless accolades, and – best of all – the support of legions of fans around the world.
WHERE ARE MOSCATO GRAPES GROWN?
Muscat grapes are grown throughout the world, but specific wines often use grapes from specific areas. Moscato d’Asti is named after Muscat grapes, with origins to the Italian town of Asti. The Muscat grape’s high sugar content gives a Moscato wine its sweetness. The Muscat grapes, Muscat of Alexandria, or Orange Muscat, are also used in red wines and fortified wines, like sherry.
HOW IS MOSCATO WINE MADE?
Like other winemakers, Jen makes Moscato wines from the must (pulp) of red or black grapes. Together with the grape skins, wine is created during the fermentation process.
The sugar converts to alcohol and carbon dioxide during this process, typically leaving dry wine. To keep it sweet, Jen combines cool temperatures, modern technology, and a careful process to ensure that some sugars remain for the semi-sweet Moscato. Voila!
So, how does Moscato get its fizzy texture? Unlike most wines, Moscato is bottled with a bit of carbon dioxide to produce some of the bubbles. The carbon dioxide helps to ensure not all of the sugar converts to alcohol, giving it the sweet flavour.
ARE PINK MOSCATO AND ROSÉ THE SAME?
The terms “pink,” blush,” and “rosé” all describe wines that are neither red nor white. Each term is interchangeable, especially for sweet wines such as zinfandel, white merlot, and even pink Moscatos.
IS PINK MOSCATO A SWEET WINE?
In most cases Moscato wine is a sweeter white wine made from Muscat Blanc grapes. Its light feel and refreshing flavour profile makes Moscato more than just a dessert wine though. They’re refreshing enough to be consumed at during a BBQ or dinner with friends.
WHERE DOES THE PINK IN PINK MOSCATO COME FROM?
Contrary to popular belief, pink wines aren’t made from mixing red and white wine together. Most are dry wines made with red wine grapes with limited exposure to the grape skins, so the colour stays somewhat pale. That means that the Muscat Blanc grapes are the reason why pink Moscato has its pink colour.
HOW MUCH IS A MOSCATO?
Depending on the winemaker, the Moscato may vary. At Barefoot Wine, Moscato prices vary depending on where you look. Each bottle of Barefoot Moscato is delightfully sweet and always affordable.