Imagine yourself lounging on a comfortable couch, savouring the peaceful moments of your afternoon tea. Suddenly, an urge for something sweet and fruity overtakes you, and your taste buds demand the perfect wine to accompany your indulgence. Without hesitation, you can reach for a bottle of Barefoot Moscato, knowing that its low alcohol content and sweet, effervescent taste will perfectly complement your dessert. The Moscato's delicate, fruity flavours, including nectarine, orange blossom, and sweet peach, are derived from the Muscat grape, which is also used to make raisins.
While Italian winemakers are known for producing Moscato with a medium-to-low acidity level, this grape variety is cultivated all over the world, from Australia to France to South America. In fact, the Muscat grape is one of the oldest grape varieties, shrouded in mystery and believed by some to have originated in ancient Egypt.
As you take a sip of the Barefoot Moscato, the wine's sweetness tantalizes your taste buds, leaving a delightful aftertaste that lingers on your palate. With every sip, you are transported to a world of indulgence and a moment of pure bliss.
The two most popular cultivars of the more than 200 recognized Muscat grapes are Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria. Muscat grapes come in a variety of colours, including white, gold, red, pink, brown, and black. The primary Moscato grape grown in Italy is the golden-yellow Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, often known as Moscato Bianco. Muscat of Alexandria, also known as Zibbibo, is a less refined grape that is typically planted for raisins and table grapes but is also used to make wine.
Flavour Profile
The Italian wine known as Moscato d'Asti from Piedmont is the inspiration for one of the most well-known Moscato wine styles. Mandarin orange, ripe pear, sweet Meyer lemon, orange flower, and honeysuckle are some of the fragrant smells in wines. The distinctive flowery scent of the wine comes from linalool, a fragrant substance also present in mint, citrus flowers, and cinnamon. Moscato d'Asti has a mild, sweet flavour that tastes like tropical fruits. It has a low alcohol content of about 5.5% ABV.
The Grapes Used
While being regarded as a well-liked white wine, Moscato is actually merely the name of an entire family of grapes in Italian. Red, white, sweet, effervescent, still, sparkling, and fortified wines can all be produced from muscat grapes. The white muscat grapes known as Moscato Bianco, including Muscat Blanc, Alexandria, and Blanc à Petits Grains, have been grown for centuries. According to regulations, only the Piedmont area of Italy is permitted to create either style. Depending on the variety and region, the grapes are harvested in the middle to late part of the growing season, where they thrive on bright, dry days and cool nights.
Food Pairings
Indeed, sweet and sparkling Moscato is fantastic on its own, but combining it with good snacks can be challenging due to its peculiar aroma. When coupled with a dessert menu, it really shines. In general, Moscato wines go great with foods that have similar fruit flavours. For a fruit-on-fruit sensation, serve this wine with a warm berry pie, peach, or nectarine tart. Moreover, it blends well with nuttier tastes. The mild flavours of a buttery almond croissant truly bring out the wine's nectarine and citrus-tasting notes.
Another excellent choice? Choose a cheese platter. The classic pairing of wine and cheese is always a hit, but you should choose mild, fresh cheeses rather than ones that are aggressively strong and pungent. Gorgonzola will be your best bet. The ideal party platter to serve with Moscato can be finished off with some fresh figs, grapes, nuts, or whatever else sounds delicious.
Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese foods pair excellently with Moscatos. Moscato's natural sweetness is balanced by the rich aromatic content of these regional foods, and because it has such a low alcohol concentration, it can be substituted for the lighter lagers that are typically paired with spicy dishes. An extra benefit is that Moscato's sweetness is the ideal complement to a dish's spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, and fiery chilli peppers.
Like other white wines, Moscato goes well with lighter foods like chicken or fish at the dinner table. While chicken is always a sure thing, you can also experiment by serving your wine with marinated tofu.