This One is For the Moscato Lovers...

Let’s talk about Moscato…

I say this with love, but Moscato and I need to stage a little intervention, and you are invited. Because if Moscato is the only sweet wine living in your cart, my friend, we have a situation.

Let me be clear, though, because I don't want you to think I'm a hater. Moscato is not the problem. Moscato is actually great at its job! It is sweet without trying too hard, softly fizzy, low in alcohol, easy to love on the very first sip, and a fresh, sweet-loving crowd pleaser. That’s exactly why it’s everywhere. Every brunch, every cookout, every "I don't really drink wine, but I'll have that" moment, and honestly, it earned every one of those fans, fair and square.

So the only shade I am throwing is this: Moscato gets a little too much of the spotlight. It hogs the entire "sweet wine" conversation while a huge, gorgeous, wildly diverse world of sweet wine waits right behind it. That is my whole issue. Let’s ignore the oversaturated Moscato market here in the US and get into some of the other sweet wines deserving of equal attention.

I want you to get curious. I want you to wander past the front door and see how big this house actually is. Sweet wine spans continents, colors, and centuries, and once you taste a few, Moscato turns into one lovely option among many rather than the only sweet name you know.

Let me play tour guide. Get to know four sweet wines from four corners of the world, what they taste like, and the food pairings that elevate your full palate experience. 

Sweet Riesling

Region: the Mosel Valley, Germany. 

Grape: Riesling.

If you love a little heat in your dinner, this is your soulmate wine. A German Riesling in the off-dry to sweet range (look for the words Spätlese or Auslese on the label) tastes like honeyed peach, ripe apricot, and a squeeze of lime, all held together by gorgeous acidity that keeps it from feeling too heavy. It is often lower in alcohol too, so it sips easily on a warm afternoon.

When it comes to food, that combination of sweetness and bright acid is basically a fire extinguisher. Pour it next to Nashville hot chicken, a fiery Thai green curry, or a pile of saucy Buffalo wings, and watch it cool the burn while making everything taste juicier. Sweet wine and hot sauce are the friendship you did not know you needed.

Sauternes

Region: Bordeaux, France. 

Grapes: mostly Sémillon, with occasional Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.

Hello, lover! If you ever ask me what my favorite sweet wine is, Sauturnes will be my definitive answer.

Sauternes gets its magic from a friendly fungus called Botrtis, or noble rot, which shrivels the grapes on the vine and concentrates everything into pure liquid gold. Expect flavors of apricot jam, honey, orange marmalade, and a whisper of exotic saffron, all rich and silky but never too sticky, because again, acidity is the balance sweet needs to feel smooth on the palate.

The famous move is Sauternes with funky blue cheese, and yes, it is spectacular. But if you want to get playful, go high-low: pour a glass beside a basket of hot, crispy fried chicken with a drizzle of honey, or, I am not kidding, a bowl of salty potato chips. If sweet-and-salty is your jam, this duo is for you.

Argentine Sweet Malbec

Region: Mendoza, Argentina. 

Grape: Malbec.

You know Malbec as Argentina's big, bold, dry red, the steakhouse hero. Now meet its flirtier cousin. Sweet Malbec (you will sometimes see it labeled Malbec dulce or a late-harvest Malbec) takes those same inky grapes and leaves a little natural sweetness behind, giving you a deep purple pour that tastes like blackberry jam, black cherry, ripe plum, and a dusting of cocoa. It is velvety and rich with soft, easygoing tannins, basically a chocolate lover's dream in a glass.

Speaking of chocolate: this is the bottle to open next to a warm, fudgy brownie or a slice of chocolate cake, because dark fruit and dark chocolate were made to run into each other's arms. 

Want to get crafty? Take it somewhere savory and smoky. Pour it alongside a rack of sticky barbecue ribs or a plate of pulled pork, and let that jammy sweetness play against the char and spice. Sweet red and smoky barbecue is a summer cookout upgrade you will not stop thinking about.

Brachetto d'Acqui

Region: Piedmont, Italy. 

Grape: Brachetto.

If what you love most about Moscato is the bubbles, let me gently take your hand and walk you right over here. Brachetto d'Acqui comes from the same beautiful corner of Italy, but it is a lightly sparkling sweet red, pale ruby, low in alcohol, and absolutely charming. It smells like fresh strawberries, raspberries, and rose petals, and it drinks like elegant candy.

For pairing, lean romantic: chocolate-covered strawberries were practically invented for this wine, and a raspberry-almond tart would not hurt either. Want to surprise people? Try it with a salty board of prosciutto and melon. A fizzy sweet red against cured, salty ham is the kind of match nobody expects, and everybody remembers.

Taste the Sweet Side of the World With Me

Feeling curious? Good, because I am throwing a whole party for exactly this.

I am teaming up with my friends at The 365 Experience for Sweethearts of the World, an explorative sweet wine tasting where we will sip and learn our way through five sweet wines from around the globe, no Moscato required. Expect good company, local vendors to shop, and a room full of people ready to fall for something new in their glass.

Here are the details:

Sunday, September 6, from 4 to 7pm 

401 Butternut Street NW, Washington DC 

Dress code: wear your prettiest pink

Bring your sweet tooth and an open mind, and let's explore the big, beautiful world of sweet wine together. 

Tickets