A few years ago I knew that when I went out with girlfriends most of them would order Riesling or Chardonnay. I've recently noticed that those same friends are now more often ordering Moscato.
When my husband and I tried the Cooper's Hawk Winery Wine of the Month a few months ago and found that it was an Orange Muscat (I'll explain the “Muscat/Moscato” thing later) that we loved, we ended up buying an extra 6 bottles on the spot (and have since gone back and gotten more each month).
Even casually reading wine articles, I am seeing them mentioning Moscato time and again. What is Moscato and how can you find it?
What is Moscato?
Moscato is the Italian name for the Muscat variety of grapes. Because of that, you will sometime see “Moscato” used and sometimes “Muscat.” Spanish wine will sometimes be referred to as Moscatel. Moscato is generally a sweeter wine although not to the level of being categorized as a dessert wine. Muscat grapes are grown all over the world, which means you will find many different varieties of Moscato wine, including the sparkling wine Moscato d'Asti.
My anecdotal evidence is not all that I found to support my theory that Moscato is becoming more popular. Wine Spectator reported that it is now the number 3 white wine in the United States and is more popular than even Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc (Moscato Mania). According to some an article on NPR, Moscato brands have doubled in the past three years alone and have even gained popularity in the Hip-Hop world (Moscato Finds A Younger, Hipper — And Browner — Audience).
Can You Buy Moscato of the Month Wine Clubs?
Although I have yet to find a club that is nothing but Moscato (that would be incredibly specific for a growing market!), I have found a club that I think all Moscato drinkers will appreciate. A Chardonnay of the month club would be an okay choice but not the best one because Chardonnay are not always sweet and you would get a wide range of Chardonnays.
The good news is that there is a club that should make fans of Moscato happy. We reviewed it as part of our Sweet Wine of the Month Clubs post and it actually had half Moscato in it. The Cellars Wine Club Sweet Wine Club is just what it sounds like, lighter and sweeter wines than most other clubs. It is recommended for new, beginning wine drinkers or those who like to have “crowd-pleasing selections” on-hand. The wine is priced around $25 a bottle and you get 2 bottles at a time, either 4, 6, or 12 times a year. It's the perfect club when Moscato is your absolute favorite wine. You will also probably discover similar wines that you like with this club!
Another club that might appeal to Moscato fans who are more adventurous is Firstleaf Wine club. Firstleaf Wine Club is like the “choose your own adventure of wine clubs.” You take a wine quiz that helps them develop a flavor profile for you. Then each shipment gets tailored more and more toward your personal preferences.
A few things that I love about this club:
- Your first shipment comes out to about $7 a bottle
- Wide variety of different sweet wines every month
- Exposure to different types of wines
The Firstleaf Wine Club is a perfect way to continue a love of Moscato while also straying just a little bit to see what else you might like. If you like Moscato, chances are pretty good that you are going to like Rieslings, Viogniers, and many of the other wines that come in the club.
Are you a fan of Moscato? How does it compare to other white wines for you?
