Moscato is an often misunderstood grape, discounted for being too sweet or too fruity. In the hands of a talented winemaker, Moscato is pretty memorable.
How to Pair Moscato
by Matthew Lorman
Moscato is an often misunderstood grape, discounted for being too sweet or too fruity. In the hands of a talented winemaker, Moscato is pretty memorable. Let's look at Moscato d’Asti, a region in Piedmont, Italy that is the spiritual home for this lively wine bursting with flavors of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, peaches, and pear. Because this style of Moscato is sweet and low in alcohol, it makes sense to pair it with foods that either complement or contrast the sugar. Check out these food and wine pairings to make the most out of any dish, whether it is sweet, spicy, or salty.
Something Sweet
Pairing Moscato with your favorite sweet treat is a no-brainer. When pairing sweet wines with dessert, it is important to keep the sweetness level of the food in mind. Desserts like poached pears, apple tart, and pineapple upside-down cake are great complements to the fruit flavors of the wine. Be sure that the wine is sweeter than the dessert to not overpower the wine. If you're a frequent flyer at brunch and are tired of mimosas, try a glass of Moscato with blueberry pancakes and syrup. You can thank me later!
Something Spicy
Tame the flame with something sweet. Wines with a bit of residual sugar are perfect for quenching your thirst after spicy food. Thanks to its sweetness and low alcohol content, Moscato makes a great pairing. The heat from spicy Indian curries, Szechuanese dishes, and other cuisines that use chili can be extinguished by Moscato. Try whipping up a green Thai curry, dan dan noodles, or an aromatic saag paneer. This aromatic wine can stand up to the complexity of these dishes and bring sweet relief.
Something Salty
I am a huge fan of sweet and salty flavor combinations. Whether it’s chocolate-covered pretzels, popcorn, chocolate candy or maple bacon, I can never get enough! Pairing Moscato with salty snacks will enhance the fruit and floral flavors in the wine. Foods with a high-salt content are perfect to offset the sweetness of the wine. Throw together a charcuterie board with salty snacks like Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto, and salted, roasted nuts. Moscato is the perfect snack time wine!
What is your favorite Moscato food pairing? We would love to hear from you. Take to your favorite social media platform and show us your love for this often overlooked wine! Tag us on instagram and show us your food pairings! (@DCanterwines)