Are All Moscato Wines Sweet?

Last Updated on August 1st, 2023

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When a Winevore hears the word Moscato, your first thought is probably going to be some form of a sweet, light wine. Are all Moscato wines sweet, though? That’s certainly debatable. 

Sure, most of all, Moscato wines are sweet. But its name comes from a certain type of grape. So yes, Moscato could come in forms that aren’t as sweet as most of its kind.

Are Some Moscato Wines Sweeter Than Others?

Of course, they are. Amongst any general kind of flavor, there are ones that are more. You can’t expect every strawberry-flavored candy to carry the same amount of sweetness or have the same strong flavor. The same can be said about any wine, without a doubt. Moscato is definitely no exception.

A glass and a bottle of moscato on a cloth - Are All Moscato Wines Sweet?

Not only that, but Moscato itself comes in different flavors! Different types of fruits will naturally affect a wine’s sweetness level. So, if you enjoyed the amount of sweetness you got from one Moscato, you shouldn’t go buying a completely different type expecting it to match the previous.

Are Some Moscato Wines Dry?

Not typically, no. If you order Moscato, you’re pretty unlikely to receive anything dry. Can you get a dry Moscato? Absolutely! It’s just definitely much less common than the sweet, sparkling Moscato you know and love. 

As said earlier, Moscato is literally named after a kind of grape. Just because it’s typically not used for drier wines, since it’s a fairly sweet grape, that doesn’t mean they’re not out there at all. If you prefer dry wine, don’t let that stop you from trying Moscato. You can certainly find some dry Moscato out there, too.

How Can I Tell if a Moscato Is Sweet Before I Buy It?

If you want to check how sweet the Moscato you’re buying is, one thing to do is check the RS, and another is to check the ABV.

RS stands for residual sugar. This means the amount of sugar that’s left in the alcohol after it has fermented. The higher the amount of residual sugar, the sweeter it will be. If you’re specifically concerned with how sweet it is, make sure to check this.

The ABV stands for alcohol by volume. This is a measure of how much alcohol a drink contains by volume. Sweet wines tend to have approximately 11% or lower ABV, so look out for that, too.

Summary

Despite its sparkly and sweet reputation, Moscato can come in different forms. It can be a delicious wine when it’s dry. It’s just not nearly as common as the other kind of Moscato. Keep an open mind when trying out any kind of Moscato that’s not like its most popular form!

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