Moscato wine in Australia

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Moscato is the Italian word for Muscat. But over the past few years Moscato wine has acquired a new meaning in Australia.

Moscato is a low alcohol wine often sweet and a just a little bubbly (spritzig). It can be made with any of the several varieties of Muscat, especially Muscat a Petit Grains.. Zibibbo is the pink version of Moscato.

Prosecco is a similar but drier style made with the Prosecco grape.

Over recent years low alcohol sweet or semi sweet wines under the name Moscato have become very popular in Australia. These are typically low alcohol wines (6-10%) and are ideal as aperitifs.

The appeal of these wines is that they are very refreshing. The natural acidity of the wine is offset by the sweetness, but they are not overwhelmingly sweet.

Many occasional or novice wine drinkers find these wines more palatable than overoaked Chardonnay or astringent Sauvignon blanc. They may start with these wines and eventually be encouraged to try other fuller-bodied table wines.

The following Australian wineries are making Moscato style wines

Andrew Peace Wines Swan Hill
Audrey Wilkinson Hunter
Angoves Winery Riverland
Annie's Lane Clare Valley
Bago Vineyards Hastings River
Ballast Stone Estate Currency Creek
Banrock Station Riverland
Bellbrae Estate Geelong
Bent Creek Vineyards McLaren Vale
Box Stallion Mornington Peninsula
Brown Brothers King Valley
Bullers Beverford Swan Hill
Cargo Road Wines Orange
Casella Riverina
Chalk Hill Winery McLaren Vale
Chateau Tanunda Barossa Valley
Crittenden at Dromana Mornington Peninsula
Cumulus Wines Orange
De Bortoli Riverina
Di Lusso Estate Mudgee
Dominic Versace Wines Adelaide Plains
Dos Rios Swan Hill
Evans and Tate Margaret River
Foxey's Hangout Mornington Peninsula
G Pattriti & Co McLaren Vale
Gapsted Alpine Valleys
Glandore Estate Hunter Valley
Gracebrook Vineyards King Valley
Grant Burge Barossa Valley
Holm Oak Northern Tasmania
Innocent Bystander Yarra Valley
Jeanneret Wines Clare Valley
Jindalee Estate Geelong
Kirrihill Adelaide Hills
Lake Breeze Langhorne Creek
Lillypilly Estate Riverina
Logan Wines Mudgee
Mandalay Road Geographe
Mitchelton Nagambie Lakes
Pertaringa McLaren Vale
Petersons Glenesk Estate Mudgee
Redbank Victoria King Valley
Rolf Binder Barossa Valley
Sam Miranda Wines King Valley
Southern Highland Wines Southern Highlands
Stella Bella Margaret River
Symphony Hill Wines Granite Belt
T'Gallant Mornington Peninsula
Tempus Two Hunter Valley
Terra Felix Upper Goulburn
The Grapes of Ross Barossa Valley
The Wanderer Yarra Valley
Tower Estate Hunter Valley
Trentham Estate Murray Darling
Vineyard 28 Geographe
Warrabilla Wines Rutherglen
Westend Estate Riverina
Wirra Wirra McLaren Vale
Zilzie Wines Murray Darling

Food pairing with Moscato wine

There are several options for food pairing with Moscato wine

The wines are low in alcohol and are ideal for drinking without food, perhaps on a hot afternoon before dinner.
The light sweet style is also well matched with light appetiser foods
Moscato is ideal with a refresher course during a heavy meal, for example you may decide to serve a glass of Moscato with a palate cleansing sorbet after a rich course
With dessert - Moscato is an ideal accompaniment to creamy or cheesy dishes. If you enjoy a rich chocolate dessert a light Moscato could provide a pleasing contrast.

Drinking moderately reduces your likelihood of seeking help for alcoholics in the future.

Back from Moscato to Varieties Index

Please contact me if you know of other Aussie producers of this style.