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Moscato

Food and wine
 by Mayank

Moscato Food Pairings

Moscato wine is characterized by its sweet, fruity and sometimes floral aroma and taste. Many Moscato wines have a bit of effervescence to them, and Moscato d’Asti is a sparkling wine. If you thought that Moscato must be reserved as a dessert wine, think again. Moscato wine is one of the most versatile types of wine available thanks to its sweetness and lower alcohol levels. Below, learn what foods pair well with Moscato wine from your cocktail hour appetizers to your indulgent dessert.

Crudite platter.

Appetizers
One of the easiest possible foods for a cocktail hour is a crudite platter, and Moscato wine pairs perfectly with this crowd favorite. The crispness of raw vegetables plays well with the crisp finish of Moscato and vegetables such as carrots, celery, red and yellow bell peppers and green onion are all vegetables that work especially well with Moscato wine. Cheeses that pair well with Moscato are varied and range from soft cheeses, like Brie to medium-firm cheeses like Pecorino Romano. A simple bruschetta is also a crowd-pleasing appetizer that will complement Moscato wine well.

Butter chicken and naan.

Main Dishes
When it comes to serving your main course, spicy dishes are highly recommended with Moscato. Dishes like curry whether Thai or Indian, spicy spaghetti arrabbiata and hot foods from Szechuan, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine work seamlessly with Moscato wine. If you aren’t a huge fan of intense spices, Moscato also works with light flaky fish, chicken, turkey, shrimp, lobster, crab and duck which leaves your options virtually unlimited when it comes to preparing your main dish. For vegetarians, Moscato not only works with the vegetables listed above, but it also pairs wonderfully with tofu.

Herbs and Spices
Meal planning goes beyond just deciding what meat or vegetables to serve, you have to take into account what herbs, spices or other foods you want to incorporate into your dish. Spices that pair nicely with Moscato include cinnamon, ginger, basil, cardamom, lime, cloves, chili peppers, cayenne pepper, fennel, cilantro, orange and mint.

Biscotti.

Desserts
A sweet glass of dessert Moscato or Moscato d’Asti can be a great finish to your meal on its own, but if you want to serve something sweet, there are plenty of desserts that pair well with Moscato. Biscotti is a classic choice when it comes to desserts and Moscato, and nut-based desserts such as a caramel cashew torte taste great with Moscato as well. Because Moscato has such a fruity aroma and taste, fruit desserts are also popular with Moscato. Other desserts to enjoy with Moscato include grilled peaches, succulent cherry pie or creamy cheesecake.

Moscato wine takes you through each course of your meal effortlessly with its versatile flavor profile. When it comes to pairing wine and food the most important rule is to pair wines and foods that you enjoy and that taste good to you, but if you want a bit of help, the above foods are all impeccable choices for Moscato pairings.

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Sangria cocktail
 by Mayank

Moscato Wine Cocktails

Moscato wine is well-known for its distinctive sweet, light flavor that is full of fruit notes such as apple, peach, pear, lime, orange and pineapple. While moscato wine is a delicious, refreshing wine on its own, the sweet fruity flavor of this wine lends itself perfectly to making incredible cocktails. Below, find some of our favorite moscato wine cocktail recipes.

Sparkling Moscato Punch
This moscato punch is super quick and easy, making it perfect for last-minute get togethers.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (750) bottle moscato
  • ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
  • ¼ cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
  • ¼ cup apples chopped
  • ½ orange thinly sliced
  • 1-1 ½ cups sparkling water

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir gently. Serve immediately over ice or chill in refrigerator to give flavors a strengthen.

Citrus Berry Moscato Sangria
Perfect for making ahead, this moscato sangria is sure to delight with a mixture of lively citrus and sweet berries.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup raspberries
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • 1 orange thinly sliced
  • 1 grapefruit thinly sliced
  • ¼ triple sec
  • 1 (750ml) bottle rose moscato

Add water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and allow simple syrup time to cool. Add raspberries, blueberries, orange, grapefruit, triple sec and half of the cooled simple syrup to a large pitcher. Fill pitcher with rose moscato and stir all ingredients together. Taste and if necessary, add remaining simple syrup. Allow to chill at least two hours prior to serving.

Sparkling Moscato Mimosa Floats
This holiday season, surprise your family and friends with a twist on the classic mimosa by making these sparkling moscato mimosa floats that bring together the holiday flavors of cranberry and orange. These cocktails work best when made individually, so you can skip the pitcher for this recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (750ml) bottle sparkling moscato
  • 8 cups orange juice
  • â…› to 1.4 cup cranberries
  • cranberry juice
  • orange sherbet

Place desired amount of cranberries in the bottom of a wine glass, then fill halfway with sparkling moscato. Add orange juice being sure to leave room for a small scoop (½ cup or less depending on the size of the glass) of orange sherbet. Top the drink with a splash of cranberry juice and garnish with extra cranberries if desired.

Pear Cranberry Moscato
Another super quick and simple drink to make, this cocktail is perfect for a cozy evening in or for two, but works just as well for festive holiday party crowds.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cranberries
  • 1 cup pear peeled and chopped
  • 1 (750 ml) bottle moscato wine (use sparkling moscato for a more festive drink)
    cinnamon sticks

Add cranberries and pear to a small saucepan and cook over low heat with the lid on. Stir every five minutes, mashing up the fruit as much as possible. Cook until fruit is very soft, about 15-20 minutes. When finished, strain using a fine mesh sieve. Throw away fruit solids and chill fruit puree until ready to use. Add fruit puree to the bottom of a champagne flute or wine glass, then fill with moscato. Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick stirrer for a bit of sweet spice.

Mix up one of these moscato cocktails when you want a light, sweet cocktail. Adjust levels of fruit or sugar to your tastes and experiment using other citrus fruits, such as lime or pineapple or juicy fruits like peaches and watermelon. These delicious moscato wine cocktails are easy to make and can be enjoyed anytime. Cheers!

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Coffee and wine on the table.
 by Mayank

How You Take Your Coffee Could Suggest What Wines You Will Enjoy

When it comes to picking out wine it can be overwhelming to decide exactly what wine varietal will be most enjoyable to your specific tastes. When it comes to your morning cup of coffee, it’s probably incredibly easy for you to determine exactly what suits you. In fact, your coffee routine is most likely second nature; you like what you like and you stick to it. Interestingly, the way you enjoy your coffee can actually help you figure out what wine varietals may be most suited to your palate preferences. There are three main components that guide your palate through a drink, both coffee and wine. Here, we share what these guides are and what wine you might like based upon how you take your coffee.

Your Palate
Your sense of taste is directly related to your sense of smell. Aroma, a term used both for coffee and wine, is an important aspect of your palate profile. You’ve undoubtedly heard the term body in reference to wine, such as a full-bodied red, but you might not be exactly positive what that means. The body of your drink, coffee or wine, is simply how your drink feels inside your mouth. You may change what type of body you prefer based on your mood, the weather and whether you are drinking wine to celebrate a big promotion or unwind after a hectic day. Lastly, acidity is an important element of your palate profile. Acidity may seem a bit difficult to determine, but it’s actually quite simple. If you were to pick up a piece of sour candy right now, would you like or not? If you would, you prefer drinks that are highly acidic, zesty and lively. If you would rather not pucker up with sour candy, you enjoy a light acidity.

Women having coffee in a bar.

Your Coffee of Choice
Black – If you enjoy a straightforward cup of black coffee, chances are you will enjoy a wine with an equally straightforward, strong flavor. Wines that feature spicey notes and a higher level of acidity are great choices to look to. Argentinian Malbec, Cabernet Franc or a Beaujolais nouveau are all wines that fit the flavor profile for a black coffee drinker.

Coffee with Sugar – If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, you probably drink your coffee with a bit of sugar. Looking for sweeter wines is a good bet if you take sugar in your coffee. Some wines to start with are Moscato, Riesling or Zinfandel.

Coffee with Milk – If you take your coffee with milk, you enjoy soft, smooth flavors. When you’re looking for a wine that suits you, look for an aged wine with low acidity. Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon are two choices that have low acidity but still feature a smooth texture and flavor.

Espresso – Espresso features a thick, bitter flavor that suggests you would find wines with hearty flavors and high tannins pleasurable. Consider Chianti or Medoc wines if you enjoy a strong, bitter flavor.

Tea – Tea drinkers we have you covered too. Not everyone enjoys coffee so if tea is more your speed, look for wines that are dry and savory. A Sauvignon Blanc or Sangiovese are crisp, fresh and bright flavors that tea drinkers will appreciate.

Of course, when it comes to wine the most important rule is to drink what you like. However, if you find you’re having a hard time getting started finding wine varietals that you do like, this may be a fun way to experiment. Use this guide and see if how you take your coffee really does have an impact on the wines you prefer.

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