What are the most popular Muscat wine brands?
There is no official ranking of Muscat wine brands, so we do not name a best one. Instead, choose by style: Moscato d'Asti (light, sweet, low alcohol), dry Alsace Muscat, or fortified dessert Muscats such as Rutherglen Muscat and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. Widely sold examples of moscato include Barefoot and Sutter Home.
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In this article
What is the best Muscat wine?
It depends on the style you want, and the style matters more than the brand. Muscat is a family of grapes that makes very different wines. Widely sold moscato brands in the US include Barefoot and Sutter Home; the larger the brand, the more consistent but simpler the wine tends to be. We do not rank brands.
Main Muscat wine styles
| Style | Where from | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Moscato d’Asti, Asti | Piedmont, Italy | Light, sweet, lightly fizzy (Moscato d’Asti) or fully sparkling (Asti); low alcohol |
| Dry Muscat | Alsace (France), Spain, Austria | Floral and aromatic, dry, white wine |
| Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise | Rhone, France | Sweet, fortified dessert wine, made mainly from the white Muscat grape |
| Rutherglen Muscat | Victoria, Australia | Dark, very sweet fortified wine (from a brown-skinned Muscat clone) |
| Moscatel de Setubal | Portugal | Sweet fortified wine (check the label) |
Muscat, Moscato, Moscatel and Muscat Canelli: the same?
They are mostly names for the same grape family in different languages: Muscat in French, Moscato in Italian, Moscatel in Spanish and Portuguese. Muscat Canelli is a US name for Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains, the same grape family behind many Italian moscatos. Muscat has many varieties, including red and black ones.
Is Muscat wine sweet?
Often, but not always. Moscato and fortified Muscats are sweet, while Alsace Muscat is typically dry. Check the label for words such as sec, dry, dolce or sweet.
How to choose a bottle
- Pick the style first, then a producer from that region.
- Moscato d’Asti is best fresh, so buy a recent vintage.
- Check ABV: light moscato is often low, fortified Muscat is higher.
- Ask a wine shop for a Muscat in your price range.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements.
People also ask
What is the best Muscat wine?
That depends on whether you want light and sweet (Moscato d'Asti), dry (Alsace) or fortified dessert Muscat. There is no official ranking.
Is moscatel wine sweet?
Usually yes, especially fortified Moscatel, though dry Muscats exist. Check the label.
Are Muscat, Moscato and Muscat Canelli the same?
They are different names for the same grape family. Muscat Canelli is the US name for Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains.
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