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).
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Even casually reading wine articles, I am seeing them mentioning Moscato time and again. What is Moscato and how can you find it?
Click here to jump straight to our top Moscato Wine Club Option– The Vinesse Light & Sweet Club
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 Vinesse Light & Sweet 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 $15-17 a bottle and you get 6 bottles at a time, either 2 or 4 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 Plonk. The Plonk Wine Club has a White Wine Club that features 2-4 different white wines each shipment. Each wine is chosen by the owner, Etty Lewenstain, for those who are willing to try new wines. The wine shipment comes with tasting notes that explain the background of the wine as well as which foods it will pair well with and a recipe.
A few things that I love about this club:
- Wines come from all over the world
- No minimum number of months to buy
- Focus is on high quality wines at reasonable prices
The Plonk 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?
