Moscato: Dessert or Dinner Wine?

Moscato from Osteria dei Mercanti

Moscato is a historic Italian wine which is notorious for its sweet, fruity flavor, made from one of the oldest grapes in the world, Muscat Blanc. In America, Moscato can typically be enjoyed before, during, or after dinner–really any time you want to drink it. If someone prefers a sweeter wine, they typically will choose Moscato.

In Italy, Moscato is strictly a dessert wine. Drinking Moscato with your dinner is viewed as a disgrace in Italy; this sweet drink is saved for after the meal is finished. I made this mistake when ordering a Moscato with dinner–the waiter looked at me in shock and told me, “No.” I have never had a waiter tell me I could not order anything before, which I found hilarious. Not only was this incident a little bit humbling, but it taught me more about Italian food culture. Now, I will never forget that Moscato is a dessert, not a dinner wine.

"Mamma Mia! Moscato!" - Emma Satterwhite

I finally ordered, a little ashamedly, a Moscato after my meal. The wine was extraordinarily sweet; it had notes of fruit and honey and tasted like a juice more than a wine. It was a warm white color that smelled sweet as well. Because of the sweetness, I was unable to drink all of my glass in fear of a stomach ache. The wine left me feeling sleepy and ready for bed, making me understand why this is an after meal wine in Italy.

Storyteller: Emma Satterwhite

Editor: Alexis Martinez

Photographer: Emma Satterwhite