Find the key etiquette considerations on how to serve and drink Moscato and tips to be the ideal host or the perfect guest at the dining table.
What Moscato etiquette is
Moscato etiquette is the set of rules to properly serve and drink Moscato. Such rules help avoid behaviors that can disrespect hosts or guests, or make you look unpolite.
If you are hosting, follow Moscato etiquette to appropriately serve it to your guests.
If you are a guest, respect Moscato etiquette rules to properly drink and enjoy it.
What you should know about Moscato
Moscato is a type of wine produced in Italy. Some Moscato are denominazione di origine controllata garantita (DOCG) wines.
Multiple varieties of Moscato exist. The most common are sparkling, still, and pink. Most Moscato is golden yellow in color. Pink Moscato is comparable to Rosé wine in color.
Moscato tends to be dry yet sweet in taste. It is usually light in alcohol.
Etiquette tips for serving and drinking Moscato
1) How to store Moscato
Store Moscato in a cool and dry place. The temperature should be constant.
Place the bottles in a horizontal position. Keep them away from sources of heat. The bottles should not be exposed to direct light, natural or artificial.
Do not store Moscato in the freezer.
After opening it, you should drink sparkling Moscato on the same day. Pink and still Moscato can last about 3 or 4 days.
2) How to prepare Moscato
Moscato does not need decanting.
To prepare Moscato for serving, it is sufficient to chill it to bring the wine to its optimal temperature.
Place Moscato in a bucket of water and ice 30 to 45 minutes before serving. Alternatively, place it in the fridge for at least one hour before serving.
3) How to serve & present Moscato
Serve Moscato chilled but not ice cold. The ideal temperature is about 12°C (54°F). Colder temperatures prevent the wine from fully releasing its bouquet. Avoid serving temperatures colder than 10°C (50°F).
Present Moscato in its bottle. After opening it, you can place the bottle in a bucket of water and ice to keep it chilled.
You should open the bottle at the dining table, or immediately before pouring it. Open the bottle by holding the cork with your palm. Gently rotate the bottle to ease the cork out. Do not pop the cork as it is bad manners.
Be careful about the pressure. Do not shake the bottle. Have a couple of empty glasses ready nearby, to pour the wine if it spills.
Hold the bottle by its body, never by its neck or cork. Serve Moscato in small white wine glasses or in dessert wine glasses. Fill the glass between ⅓ and ½.
4) When to serve & drink Moscato
Moscato is too sweet in taste to be appropriate for pre-meal drinks. Similarly, it is not the best option to accompany a meal.
Moscato is best at the end of a meal or after it. Serve it to accompany cheese, fruit salad, or dessert. Moscato is ideal as an after-meal drink.
5) Food & aromas to pair Moscato with
It is uncommon to pair Moscato with savory courses. In Italy, it is usually served at the end of the meal or after it.
Pair Moscato with dessert, such as Tiramisu. Combine it with a delicate cheese, such as Mascarpone or Cottage cheese. Serve it to match a strong cheese, such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort.
Moscato is ideal to accompany a fruit salad. Its aroma pairs well with stone fruits, such as apricots. Or with berries, like strawberry, blueberry, or raspberry.
6) How to drink Moscato
Drink Moscato in small white wine chalices or in dessert wine glasses. Hold the glass by its stem to avoid warming the wine with your hand.
Drink it in small sips. A glass of Moscato should last between 10 and 20 minutes. Never drink shots of Moscato.
Do not add ice to the Moscato. First, ice waters down the wine and its bouquet. Furthermore, ice is usually added to low-quality or cheap beverages. Thus, adding ice to Moscato can be seen as an offense to the quality of the wine, and therefore to your host.
Moscato etiquette: the worst mistakes
Avoid the worst Moscato etiquette mistakes.
- 10/10. Getting drunk.
- 8/10. Popping the cork.
- 7/10. Drinking shots of Moscato.
- 6/10. Adding ice to Moscato
- 4/10. Serving Moscato warm.
Additional information for properly serving Moscato
How many calories per serving?
Counting calories is important to stay healthy and to correctly plan a menu.
On average, Moscato wines contain about 73 calories per 100 ml (3.5 oz).
An individual serving is a small white wine glass of 120 ml (4 oz). It contains 87 calories.
How to buy the best Moscato
A crucial factor in Moscato etiquette is to serve the best product possible to your guests.
Choose the best
The best Moscato wines usually display a quality certification on the bottle. Look for an IGT, DOC, or DOCG label. They certify the quality, region, and production method of the wine.
Perhaps, the most famous is Moscato d’Asti.
Alternatives to Moscato
Dessert and sweet wines based on Muscat grapes can be valid substitutes for Moscato.
Passito is a popular dessert wine. Another option is the sweetest varieties of Prosecco: Demi-Sec or Dolce.
Sources
- Moscato d’Asti consortium: astidocg.it