Chicas y chicos,in honor of National Moscato Day, which is mañana, May 9, I’d like to offer you three fun factoids about the wine that’s on everyone’s lips (and palates) these days, and share some tasting notes about Gallo Family Vineyards‘ Moscato. Before we go any further, here’s El Full Disclosure: The fine folks at Gallo gifted me a bottle of their Moscato and sponsored this blog post. However, the opinions (and factoids!) presented here for your reading and drinking pleasure are entirely my own.
So sit right down, pour yourself a glass of Moscato, and enjoy the three things every wine lover should know about Moscato.
1. Moscato goes by different names in different countries. “Moscato” is actually Italian for Muscat, one of the oldest known grape varieties in the world. In Spain, it’s called Moscatel. Moscato is thought to be one of the few wines that actually tastes like the grape, and if you happen upon a Moscato vineyard, don’t freak out if bees and wasps are swarming the fruit of the vine. They’re drawn to the grape’s intoxicating floral and honey-like aroma and it’s decadent sweetness.
2. Moscato can be made in various styles. I personally think Moscato is one of the most versatile wines out there. You can have it sweet or dry, still or sparkling, or as a syrupy dessert wine. The wine can be white, pale pink or even red. I sampled Gallo’s Moscato, which is pale gold in color and happens to come from Muscat grapes grown in Australia. This wine has peach and citrus aromas, two scents that typically characterize Moscato, and it’s sweet on the palate.
3. Moscato pairs beautifully with fresh fruit, fruit-based desserts or spicy foods. Depending on which style of Moscato you’re drinking, there are pairing options for various food courses. A sweet Moscato can take the burn off of a spicy main course (I’m lookin’ at YOU, chile relleno and chicken tikka masala!) or complement the sweetness of fresh fruit or a fruit tart. A sparkling Moscato is an elegant aperitif and the perfect way to start a brunch.
If you’re looking for an excuse to uncork a bottle of Moscato and share your new knowledge, let’s party! Join me tomorrow night for the #gno (as in Girls’ Night Out–but guys are welcome, too!) #MoscatoDay Twitter Party, Thursday, May 9 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific Time (9 to 10 p.m. Eastern).
In the meantime, here’s a quick and easy recipe for a yummy Moscato cocktail, courtesy of our amigos at Gallo Family Vineyards. See you tomorrow night, and ¡salud!
Moscato Gimlet
(serves 1)
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato
- 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz. Agave Nectar
Preparation: Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime.
Wow. Thanks for sharing your Moscato knowledge. I love Moscato but never thought about using it to help me out when my mouth is on fire. 🙂 Also, love the cocktail recipe at the end of your post. definitely trying it. 🙂
xoxo
Marla
http://www.marlitaontherun.com
My pleasure, Marla! Enjoy the recipe and hope to see you tomorrow night at the #gno #MoscatoDay Twitter party. Cheers!
I love wines, thanks for the recipe
I love Moscatos! I am looking forward to impressing my summer guests with the Moscato Gimlet! As far back as I can remember, our uncles sat around grandma’s table drinking Moscato wines, and I am certain that it was the first wine I ever tried, way before I was supposed to. Would you pair a Moscato with chocolate fondue?
Thanks for sharing the wonderful family memories about Moscato and los tíos, Patty! It’s probably one of the first wines I tried, too. Oooh, how I love chocolate…I think it may be a bit too rich for Moscato, so I’d stick with fruity desserts. A nice Port would be lovely with your chocolate fondue, and be sure to invite me over the next time you make it 😉 ¡Salud!
Thank you Senorita Vino! I will keep that in mind for our next fondue party. Believe it or not, I still have a bottle of “Baileyana 2003 Vintage Port” that we received in SLO back in 2009! I will make sure to share it with my guests next time.
I love it, Patty! If you do share the bottle at your next par-tay, you know what that means…you have to come back to SLO to get another one! ¡Salud! xoxo
Never tried this wine before but will definitely pick up for the next night I entertain. I find the best wines by word of mouth!
i don’t think i’ve ever tried moscato! will have to find a bottle at the store this weekend!xo
You must! I think you’ll really enjoy it. Let me know what you think. Cheers!