Cinnamon, Ginger, Galangal, Basil, Lime, Mint, Cardamom, Chili Peppers, Cayenne Pepper, Clove, Shallots, BBQ Sauce, Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour, Orange, Marjoram, Cashew, Peanut, Fennel, Cilantro Moscato d’Asti tastes light-bodied and sweet, with tropical fruit flavors, light bubbles (the Italians call this frizzante – “frizz-ont-tay”), and low alcohol at around 5.5% ABV (btw, regular wine has about 13% ABV). Taste:Take a small sip and let it move around your mouth. Note the sugar, acidity, tannins, and alcohol content when first tasting, then move on to tasting notes (fruit, spice, wood) and finally the finish. Calories in Moscato Moscato d’Asti ranges from 110-170 calories per 6 oz serving. Some of these calories are carbs from the grape sugars. Even sweeter than Moscato d’Asti are the dessert wines. There are many to try: French Muscat de Rivesaltes and Muscat de Beaumes de Venise; In southern Spain, there is a special Moscatel Sherry with rich with caramel flavors; in southern Portugal, Moscatel de Setúbal is made with the rare Moscatel Roxo grapes; In Greece, Muscat of Samos comes in a variety of sweet styles; in Sicily, Muscat grapes are often partially dried to concentrate the sweetness; in Australia, Rutherglen Muscat is one of the sweetest styles in the world – so sweet, you could pour it over ice cream!

The Italian wines of Moscato d’Asti (semi-sparkling) and Asti Spumante (sparkling) are the classic examples, but you’ll discover wines labeled “Moscato” are typically made in this style. Both of the Italian versions have Italy’s highest DOCG classification, which means they have a protected guarantee of origin much like Parmigiano-Reggiano. The best wines are highly aromatic and sweet, but perfectly balanced with zippy acidity, bubbles, and a clean, minerally finish. This might just be the perfect pool party wine. Muscat grapes are quite old (thousands of years!) and thus, you can find it growing throughout the world. For example, there are Muscat-based wines in France, Italy, Austria, Greece, Israel and even Australia. Each region has a its own style. Here are the most well-known Moscato styles:

Moscato d’Asti is a sweet wine, but its sweetness is never overpowering, instead blending with the dash of freshness produced by its slight effervescence. While not technically a sparkling wine, it does retain an unmistakable vivacity and has a low alcohol content. It comes bottled with a standard still-wine cork, unlike its two sparkling ‘sisters’, which have the classic mushroom-shaped cork. Of all the Moscato varieties, the aromatic Moscato Bianco grape has the most aristocratic finesse, with a distinctive fragrance and flavour. It’s a “grape-wine” that preserves the full fragrance of the grape type involved and produces a product that is essentially halfway between drinking the fruit and the wine.