Muscat, or Moscato, is a very large umbrella that represents many styles of wine with various grapes. Of the hundreds of varietals called Muscat, there are four main Muscat grapes used in contemporary winemaking: Muscat blanc à Petits Grains (used to make famously refined and exuberantly floral wines including Italian sparkling Moscato among other iterations), Muscat of Alexandria (most often used to make fortified wines in France and Pisco, a type of brandy, in Chile), Muscat of Hamburg (also known as "Black Muscat" is grown in California to produce sweet dessert wines), and Muscat Ottonel (the most common Muscat in Alsace and Austria as well as across the vineyards of former Yugoslav and Soviet republics). The color variation in the grapes produces similar variation in the finished wines, with different types of Muscat used to make white wine, red wine, sweet wine, and rosés (which are sometimes referred to as blush or Pink Moscato).
What are the tasting notes of Moscato wine?
All Muscat wines are known for a pronounced floral aroma in the bouquet (full of orange blossom), big fruit (like apricot and tangerine), and the ability to be made in a variety of styles. Muscat is also famous for being one of the few wines to exhibit "grapey" flavors. Muscat grapes are also grown to be consumed as table grapes or made into raisins.
What are the best Moscato wines?
The most famous iteration of Muscat is Moscato, a sparkler from the Italian Piedmont. Asti Spumante and Moscato d'Asti are the classic sparkling and semi-sparkling wines from Italy that are often referred to as "frizzante" in Italian under a DOCG classification. Traditional Moscato wine has low alcohol and is crisp, fruity, and fizzy. Pink Moscato utilizes the vibrant aromas and flavors of the Muscat grapes but is finished with a dash of red wine. The result is a light and sometimes effervescent pink wine with a floral and citrus core and strawberry or cherry notes. Red Moscato is most popular in the United States and generally denotes a style, but is always sweet and full of ripe fruit flavors.
Want to learn more about Moscato?
Want to learn more about Moscato? Check out Firstleaf’s Ultimate Guide to Moscato.