Is Moscato the same as Muscat?

By Beth Heiserman

Every weekend, guests come to our tasting room and request Moscato instead of Muscat. Is there a difference, Yes! First, the name Muscato is Italian for Muscat. Muscat grapes are grown all around the world. Every country refers to the grape differently. In Italy it is Muscato D’Asti, Germany has Muskateller; while France, Australia and America have Muscat. France generally only uses the Muscat grape in fortified wines but can be found in sparkling and a still dry white wine depending upon the region. Germany grows predominately two varietals of Muscat, Muscat Ottonel and Muscat Blanc. Both are mainly produced as still dry white wines.  In Italy, Muscat is usually sweet in either sparkling or still sweet white wine. Australia makes wines called “Stickies” that are fortified. And of course, in America you see a variety of everything. At Reyes, we have done our Muscat Blanc differently every year from dry to sweet to fortified.

Come celebrate #WhiteWines at Reyes Winery… On May 3rd is World Sauvignon Blanc Day! Social media has a hashtag for it, #SauvBlancDay & #SauvBlanc. Join the movement and drink lots of Reyes Winery Sauvignon Blanc. Plus, we will celebrate #MuscatDay on May 9th and #ChardonnayDay on May 23rd. Take a photo of you, your wine and your wine glass!

Come taste award-winning #WhiteWine with a petite food pairing with each wine! I have chosen these varietals for this special tasting event. 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, 2013 Amber Chardonnay (From the cellar), 2015 Amber Chardonnay, 2014 Renaissance Chardonnay, 2016 Renaissance Chardonnay, 2011 Muscat, 2014 Muscat, 2018 Muscat Late Harvest (Not yet released). We are celebrating these amazing award-winning white wines.

I am preparing for our upcoming #WhiteWine Tasting event on May 18^th, and I have been brainstorming food pairings for the event. I have started with the 2014 Muscat. This is a limited production wine with notes of peaches and honey and has with a delicious kumquat finish. It’s remarkably delicious on its own. Only 68 cases were produced. This is a Muscat that is considerably drier. It is comparable in sweetness to our 2013 Viognier. It pairs well with spicy tuna roll, a peach kuchen and many other sweet and savory dishes. Since it is not overly sweet, it can pair with a dessert that is sweeter. I have made this dessert using different honeys and blackberry is sweet and fruity that doesn’t overpower the Muscat wine or vanilla.  I served this with a dried apricot compote. Enjoy!

 

2014 Muscat Honey Vanilla Pudding

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups 2% milk
• ¼ tsp salt, kosher
• 2 ½ tbsp cornstarch or potato starch
• ¼ +½ cup Reyes 2014 Muscat
• 3 tbsp blackberry honey
• 2 ½ tbsp butter, unsalted
• 1/8 tsp vanilla paste

Directions

1. Combine the milk and salt in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.
2.  In a cup or small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in ¼ cup of Reyes 2014 Muscat
3. When the milk begins to boil, add honey.
4. Stir in the cornstarch mixture, and cook stirring constantly until it thickens, about 5 minutes. (If you add the cornstarch without making a mixture, you will have lumps)
5. Remove from heat, and stir in the butter, vanilla and ½ cup Reyes 2014 Muscat.
6. Pour into a serving dish, cover, and chill. To keep a skin from forming on the top, place a layer of plastic wrap directly on the surface.