What Does Moscato Taste Like? (Tasting Notes of Different Wine Styles)

Moscato is a deep, luscious wine known for its signature sweetness and fruity flavors. It typically tastes sweet with medium to low acidity.

It is made from the Muscat grape, which is now grown worldwide, giving birth to many different styles of Moscato. So, the flavors also differ slightly depending on the style of wine.

Let’s explore what makes Moscato taste so enticing, including how the flavors differ by wine style. Also, find out how to serve and pair Moscato. 

What is Moscato?

This enigmatic wine is made from Muscat - one of the oldest grape varieties in the world. Although it’s known as an Italian wine (Moscato is Italian for Muscat Blanc), the origin of this ancient grape was traced back to early Egypt. 

The Moscato grape flourishes in the warm Mediterranean climate, but it’s also grown in Australia, South America, and other parts of the world. That’s why there are many different Moscato grape varieties, producing both red and white wine.

Unlike dry wine styles, Moscato usually has high concentrations of residual sugar, giving it an intense sweetness.

The most common Moscato tasting notes are clear stone fruit flavors like peach and apricot with orange blossom aromas.

Moscato Taste and Wine Styles

Here are the most popular Moscato wine styles and their flavor profiles:

1. Muscat Blanc or Moscato Bianco

Muscat Blanc (also known as Moscato Bianco), is a sweet white wine made from the Muscat Blanc grape (or the Moscato Bianco grape.)  

This Moscato wine has incredible fresh fruit flavors typical of the Muscat grape, with distinct orange blossom, peach, and honey notes. 

Best Muscat Blanc bottles to try:

• Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine, Constantia, South Africa, 2016 ($103)
• Paolo Saracco Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Piedmont, Italy, 2020 ($15)

2. Red Moscato or Moscato Rosa

This is a sweet red Moscato wine with a ripe peach and berry taste and fruity aroma. It’s a light wine made from a blend of Black Muscat with Syrah (Shiraz) or Zinfandel grapes. 

Best Red Moscato bottles to try:

• Weinlaubenhof Alois Kracher Kollektion Rosenmuskateller Trockenbeerenauslese, Burgenland, Austria, 2015 ($88)
• Girlan 'Pasithea Rosa' Moscato Rosa Alto Adige - Sudtirol, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2017 ($36)

3. Pink Moscato

Pink Moscato is a rosé wine with a sweet taste and notes of raspberry and pomegranate. It’s usually made from Muscat grapes and Merlot to give it that mesmerizing pink color. 

Best Pink Moscato bottles to try:

• Massandra Rose, Pink Muscat, Crimea, 1952 ($434)
• Stella Bella Pink Muscat, Margaret River, Australia, 2014 ($34)

4. Sparkling Moscato

Sparkling Moscato is a popular style of Moscato wine, and Moscato d’Asti is probably the most famous example. 

Made from Moscato Blanc grapes, Moscato d’Asti is a sparkling wine from the Piedmont region in Northwestern Italy. This sweet wine has a gentle sparkle and delicate floral notes. 

Best sparkling Moscato bottles to try:

• Ca' d'Gal Vite Vecchia, Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Italy, 2011 ($95)
• Paolo Saracco Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Piedmont, Italy, 2018 ($16)

5. Moscato Dessert Wine

Moscato dessert wine is the sweetest Moscato wine style. Most Moscato dessert wines are made from dried Muscat grapes for more concentrated sweetness.

Many of them are so sweet that Moscato drinkers often enjoy them as a dessert on their own. 

Here are a few popular Moscato dessert wines: 

• Moscato Rosa: This sweet, still dessert wine is made with red-purple-skinned Muscat grape from Italy’s northeastern Trentino Alto-Adige region.

• Moscato Giallo: Here’s a golden-colored dessert wine from the Trentino Alto-Adige region in Italy. It has an enchanting floral aroma with cinnamon, tropical fruit, and candied citrus flavors. 

• Moscato Canelli: This wine can be either still or sparkling in the Moscato d’Asti style with fruit flavors including peach, green apple, and honey. It’s best enjoyed as a dessert due to its intense sweetness.

Best Moscato Dessert Wines to try:

• Peterson Winery Lipton Daniel Vineyard Muscat Blanc Dessert Wine, Dry Creek Valley, USA, 2013 ($76)
• Duchman Family Winery Dessert Orange Muscat, Texas, USA, NV ($16)

Next we’ll look at how to serve and pair Moscato. 

How To Serve Moscato

The serving temperature of Moscato depends on the wine style, but generally, chilling it will soften the intense sweetness, letting the fruit flavor shine through. 

Here are a few general guidelines for serving Moscato:

• Still Rose or white wine: You should chill still white or pink-hued Moscato to around 45°F (7°C), as you would other light-bodied white wine styles like Riesling and Pinot Grigio.

• Still red wine: For fruitier, light-bodied red wine bottles, like Moscato Rose, chilling to 50°F (10°C) will reveal their complexity. 

• Sparkling: Just like Champagne, you should chill sparkling Moscato or Moscato d’Asti to 40°F (4.5°C) to keep the bubbles light and crisp.

• Fortified Wine: Fortified Moscato wines are best served at 60° to 70° F (15.5°C - 21°C) as this brings out their sweet, concentrated flavor.

Best Food Pairings with Moscato

Here are some of the best Moscato pairings:

• Spicy food and exotic spices: Moscato’s sweetness and low alcohol content help tone down the spiciness of the food. It goes great with Thai larb, curries, and other spicy dishes.

• Cured meats and salted nuts:Enjoy sweet Moscato with the saltiness of Prosciutto, Salami, and nuts which balance the sweetness of the Moscato.

• Soft or Pungent Cheeses: Moscato wine goes well with soft, creamy Brie and Camembert or a strong salty blue cheese. Sweet Moscato d’Asti balances the saltiness and flavour of these cheeses. 

Sip On Exquisite Sweet Moscato

Delicious on its own, Moscato is a refreshing way to top off a great meal. If you’re a wine lover who enjoys a sweet, fruity flavor with low acidity, then Moscato is for you!

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