20 Delicious Moscato Wines to Suit Every Budget (2024)

Moscato is an enchanting sweet white (or rose) wine made from the Muscat family of grapes. 

It comes with a delightful fruity flavor profile. You’ll love the vibrant notes of fresh fruit like peach and apricot, and citrus notes of lemon, tangerines, and orange blossom!

Its low alcohol content and light body also make it a perfect wine for holiday cocktails like Sangria or spritzers.

The United States is the main producer of Muscat wine, followed by Italy, France, Australia, Spain, South Africa, and Chile.

In this article, explore the best Moscato wines to buy in 2022, taste, prices, and some great food pairings. Also, look at the specialty of this sweet wine, the different Moscato wine styles, and a brief history.

20 Best Moscato Wines (to Buy) 2024 

Looking for the best Moscato wine is like opening Pandora’s box! 

Here are some of the best Moscato wine bottles to try now:

1. 1875 D'Oliveiras Moscatel Reserva Vintage, Madeira, Portugal ($1,675) 

The 1875 D'Oliveiras Moscatel Reserva Vintage Madeira is made from the Muscat grape variety. Extremely sweet on the palate, it has a dominant flavor of chocolate and caramel. This sweet Moscato also gives subtle hints of nuts, sweet spices, and dried fruit. You may even notice a slight hint of passion fruit on the palate.

On the nose, you get a hint of orange blossom - a typical Riesling aroma. 

Best served with spicy food like Thai Curry and Szechuan Dish.

2. 1988 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine, Constantia, South Africa ($2,874)

The 1988 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine is produced by the Klein Constantia winery, South Africa. They also make a range of dry wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties. 

The wine gives off Moscato d’Asti taste with distinct fresh fruit flavor, including peach, apricots, and apples balanced with the citrus note of Meyer lemon and tangerine. You will also get subtle spicy notes of ginger and cinnamon. 

Serve it with spicy food or as an aperitif.

3. 1955 José Maria da Fonseca Moscatel de Setúbal, Portugal ($1,694)

This Moscato wine from Portugal is made from the highly aromatic Muscat of Alexandria grape. It is a fortified dessert wine and has a primary flavor of honey, caramel, and toffee with subtle ripe peach hints. It has a distinct aroma of orange blossoms and rose petals that give freshness to the wine.

Moderately sweet on the palate, the 1955 José Maria da Fonseca Moscatel de Setubal is best paired with chocolate desserts, cheese, and fruit salad.

This wine region is also famous for its varietal wines made from Muscat, Muscat of Alexandria, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz grape varieties.

4. 2012 Castel Sallegg Moscato Rosa Sudtirol - Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy ($385)

The 2012 Castel Sallegg Moscato Rosa red wine comes from the Sudtirol appellation in Trentino-Alto Adige wine region of Italy. The popular grape varieties of the region include Moscato, Schiava, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio.

A Moscato Rosa from the heart of the Moscato wine region, this red wine is extremely sweet on the palate. This Italian wine's sweetness goes well with the red fruit flavors of raspberry and strawberry. You also get subtle tropical fruit notes on the palate. 

5. 1952 Massandra Rose - Pink Muscat, Crimea ($436)

Although the Massandra winery has produced some great varietal wines, it is mainly known for its white wines made from Muscat Blanc grapes.

The 1952 Massandra Rose is a delicious Pink Moscato wine made from the Muscatel grape in the Crimean wine region. 

This Pink Moscato wine has a tropical fruit flavor with subtle hints of raisins and dried apricots. 

6. 2014 Weingut Hans Johann Schwarz Gold Muskat Strohwein, Burgenland, Austria ($157)

This golden-colored wine is made from sun-dried Muscat Giallo grapes. It has an intense flavor of tropical fruit like juicy peach and apricots. The Weingut Hans Johann is also famous for its Bordeaux blend and Cabernet - Merlot - Zweigelt blend wines.

7. 2014 Groot Constantia Grand Constance Muscat, Constantia, South Africa ($207)

This Cape Town wine producer grows several grape varieties, including Muscat de Frontignan, Pinotage (a crossbreed of Pinot Noir and Cinsault grapes), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

This white wine has dominant fresh fruit flavors of apricot, peach, and caramel. The high sweetness level of this white Moscato is balanced by the citrus notes of orange blossom and marmalade.

Serve this sweet white wine with spicy Thai appetizers.

8. 2018 Azienda Agricola Serragghia 'Riserva Genevieve' Zibibbo Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily, Italy ($276)

This is an extremely sweet white Moscato with a medium body and low tannins, made from Muscat of Alexandria grapes. You get a fruity taste of peach and lychee with the sweetness of honey. It is balanced with notes of citrus fruits like mandarin orange.  

This sweet white wine goes best with Cheddar and Gruyere cheese. You can also serve it with a chocolate dessert and dried fruit dishes.

9. 2011 Ca' d'Gal Vigna Vecchia, Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Italy ($96)

The 2011 Ca' d'Gal Vigna Vecchia Moscato d’Asti is a semi sparkling wine (frizzante) from the Asti DOCG located in the southeastern Piedmont region of Italy. It is a medium-bodied wine with balanced acidity. 

This fizzy, sweet flavor Moscato d’Asti wine is dominated by fruity flavors of apricot and peach.

Relish its delicate floral aromas as you sip a glass of this Muscat Blanc wine!

(If you’re a Moscato d’Asti wine lover, then you can also try the Cascinetta Vietti Moscato d’Asti wine or Saracco 2018 Moscato d’Asti wine - much loved for its honeysuckle and nectarine flavors.)

10. 2015 Weinlaubenhof Alois Kracher Kollektion Rosenmuskateller Trockenbeerenauslese, Burgenland, Austria ($91)

This sweet red grape wine - made from the Moscato Rosa grape variety, comes from the Kracher winery in Burgenland, Austria. 

The thin skin of this Moscato grape dehydrates the water in the grape and concentrates the sugar leaving the winemaker with a sweet grape juice. The sweet fruity flavor of plums is balanced by the spicy notes of cloves and cinnamon.

This great wine is best served with spicy food like spicy Vietnamese cuisine.

11. 2014 Barefoot Moscato, California, USA ($21)

This light wine has delightful sweetness, floral aroma, and a fruity palate with peach, honey, and citrus notes.

12. 2019 Bartenura Moscato Provincia di Pavia IGT ($15)

Here we have a slightly fizzy Moscato with a dominant ripe peach fruity flavor and mandarin orange aromas.

13. 2017 Castello del Poggio Moscato d'Asti DOCG ($18)

This exquisite Moscato d’Asti has a delectable palate with juicy peach, orange blossom, and apricot fruity flavor notes. The elegant nectarine aromas are accompanied by herbal and mineral underlayers with refreshing acidity.

14. 2020 Cupcake Vineyards Moscato d'Asti DOCG ($20)

This golden-colored wine is slightly effervescent with honey and fresh fruit flavors. The nose also boasts a fruity aroma with hints of lychee, pineapple, and juicy peach.

15. 2018 De Martino Viejas Tinajas Muscat ($33)

This Chilean Muscat wine has a sweet-sour flavor profile - an elegant combination of citrus blossom flavor and bright acidity. The finish is long and gentle on the palate.

16. 2018 SIP Moscato ($19)

Here we have a smooth and easy-drinking Moscato from sunny California. The wine’s fruity flavor profile includes notes of ripe peach, apricot, and citrus combined with gentle floral aromas.

17. 2017 Domaine Dirler-Cade Muscat Saering ($25)

This beautiful French wine has a rich texture, high acidity, and elegant floral hints. The palate is layered with honey, nectarine, and mandarin orange fruity flavor notes.

18. Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Old Vine Muscat ($36)

This is a rich dessert wine with enchanting fig, raisin, and prune aromas. The palate has amazing caramel, marzipan, and almond notes that lead to a long and pleasant finish.

19. 2019 Sutter Home Moscato ($7)

Here’s a wonderful Moscato wine for mixing up refreshing summer cocktails. This wine presents an elegant balance of sweetness and acidity with tropical fruit hints.

20. 2020 Banrock Station Moscato ($5)

This Moscato has a subtle sweetness with hints of ripe melon, pineapple, and passion fruit. The opulent nose has mint and honey notes.

Moscato Wine: Serving and Food Pairing

Moscato wines do not need decanting - serve them straight out of the bottle at 40℉ to 50℉ (4℃ to 10℃). They’re best to drink young.

Moscato’s sweet taste and moderate acidity make it perfect to be served with spicy food. You can also serve them with cured meat dishes - the high salt content balances the sweetness of the wine. 

If you want to pair a sweet Moscato wine with cheese, go for medium to firm cheese varieties.

You can also serve Moscato wine as an aperitif.

Moscato Wine Styles

Moscato wines are known to be rich and effervescent. You’ll find Moscato sweet wines in a range of styles from red wines, white wines to Frizzante (semi sparkling wine) and sparkling wines. 

Here are the five typical Muscat wine styles. 

1. Still Moscato

As the name suggests, still Muscat wine doesn’t have bubbles. This wine is made mainly from the Muscat Blanc grape variety and other Moscato grape varieties like the Muscat of Alexandria. 

Still Moscato wine has a sweet fruity aroma that often tricks the brain, and the wine seems much sweeter than it actually is. But if you are a wine snob, it won’t be difficult for you to judge its semi-sweet taste.

If you want a taste of Moscato still wines, try Moscatel from Spain and Muskateller from Austria.

2. Semi-Sparkling and Sparkling Moscato

Some of the best examples of wines made in this style are the Italian Moscato wines, often described as Spumante (sparkling wine) or Frizzante (semi sparkling wine). Moscato d’Asti is another popular semi sparkling Moscato wine, whereas Asti Spumante is known for its bubbly appearance.

Semi-sparkling and sparkling Moscato wines are sweeter than still Moscato. Their high sweetness levels are perfectly balanced with mild acidity and a slightly mineral taste. 

3. Pink Moscato

Often compared with Champagne, Pink Moscato is a sparkling Moscato wine with a salmon pink color and an attractive fizz. 

It is processed as a white wine made from the Muscat Blanc grape. A dash of Merlot is added to give the wine its color.

Although Merlot is a dry wine grape, it adds sweet red fruit flavors of raspberry and cherries to the Pink Moscato dessert wine. 

The Barefoot Pink Moscato from California is an excellent fizzy Pink Moscato sparkling wine to drink at a casual dinner.

4. Red Moscato

A very difficult wine to find, Red Moscato is made from the rare Black Muscat grape. The red Moscato flavor profile is often described with a unique flavor of fresh berries and floral aroma of violet and rose petals. You may also get a subtle taste of black tea and licorice in a black Muscat wine. 

5. Moscato Dessert Wine

One of the most popular Moscato wine styles, the Moscato Dessert Wine is known for its extremely sweet flavor of nectarines and honeysuckle. It has low alcohol content (5%-7% ABV) and a high sweetness level.

Usually, Moscato dessert wines are naturally sweet or unfortified, but you may find some great fortified dessert wines too.

If you want to try some popular Moscato dessert wines, get a  Moscatel Sherry from Spain, Moscatel de Setúbal from Portugal, or French Muscat de Rivesaltes.

Types of Muscat Grapes

There are over 200 Muscat varieties across the globe, and each one produces wines with unique flavors and textures. 

Here are some of the most popular Muscat grapes.

1. Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains

Muscat Blanc (also known as Moscato Bianco or Muscat Canelli) is used to make a wide range of wines - from dry wine to sweet dessert wine. 

The Muscat Blanc flavor profile is rich with Meyer lemon, peach, honeysuckle, and orange blossom notes.

Around 75% of the world’s Muscat Blanc grapes are grown in Piedmont, Italy. That’s why Muscat Blanc is a key ingredient in Italian wines. The Canelli region of Asti appellation in Piedmont produces some of the best Muscat grape wines.

If you’re a Muscat Blanc wine lover, get your hands on a Bartenura Moscato or a Barefoot sparkling Moscato! 

2. Muscat Rouge a Petits Grains

Muscat Rouge is said to have originated in Greece. It is a white wine grape that produces citrus notes and fruit flavors just like the Muscat Blanc. 

3. Muscat of Alexandria

Widely cultivated in Spain and Italy, the Muscat of Alexandria grape is equally popular as a table grape and in winemaking. Winemakers use this Muscat to produce both still and sparkling wine.

You’ll love the sweet nectarine flavors of ripe peach and white flowers with low alcohol (typically under 10% ABV.)

4. Muscat Hamburg

Moscato Hamburg or Black Muscat is a late harvest grape used to produce sweet wine with high residual sugar and low alcohol content. Black Muscat is grown in California, Australia, France, Greece, and Italy.

Interestingly, it doesn’t have an intense floral aroma - unlike other Muscat varieties. That’s why red wines made with Black Muscat are usually blended with wines from richer Moscato grapes to add more flavor.

You can have a Black Muscat wine as both aperitif and as a digestive.

5. Moscato Giallo

Moscato Giallo is a white wine grape that prefers hilly limestone terroirs and is widely grown in Italian Alps. It makes sweet dessert wines with flavors of baked apples and light citrus notes. 

Depending on the winemaker, this Moscato wine can have 10% to 13% ABV.

6. Moscato Rosa

Moscato Rosa is a highly-aromatic red-skinned wine grape widely grown in Italy. It is often blended with the Muscat Blanc grape to produce sweet rose wines with floral aromas of honeysuckle, rose petals, and orange blossom. 

Its intense floral aroma and sweet fruit flavors like peach make it a good blending grape in Castello del Poggio Moscato wines.

7. Muscat Ottonel

Created in 1852 in France, Muscat Ottonel is a young Muscat grape variety. This white wine grape is used to make a range of wine styles - from light-bodied dry wine to rich and luscious dessert wine.

Muscat Ottonel white wine has fresh acidity and low alcohol levels that make it perfect to be consumed with a dessert like a hazelnut biscotti!

The Muscat grape has a colorful past - let’s take a peek into that!

A Brief History of the Muscat Grape

The history of the Muscat grape goes back a few centuries. Muscat Blanc or Moscato Bianco (the oldest Muscat grape) is said to have originated in the hot and humid Mediterranean region in the 12th century.

It was the Greeks and Romans who brought the Moscato Bianco Muscat grape to France with their expanding empires. Although Germany is now known for its Riesling wines, a few 12th-century German documents record the use of Muscat grapes several years before Riesling was grown. 

Over the centuries, the Muscat grape was planted throughout Europe and other continents like Australia, North America, and Africa. Winemakers tried out a range of breeding and winemaking techniques, which is why you’ll find an incredibly wide range of Muscat grape varieties and wines today!

If you want to invest in wines for the long term, Moscato may not be your best choice. There are plenty of other investment-grade wine bottles that increase in quality and value over time.

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Moscato: A Versatile Wine That Suits Any Taste

There is a Moscato for every wine lover out there - to raise a toast at a wedding or to accompany a cozy brunch with friends! Just pick a Castello del Poggio Moscato, a Moscato d’Asti, a Saracco Moscato, an Asti Spumante or any other Moscato of your choice from a reputed wine store near you.

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