There’s More To Moscato’s Meaning Than You Think!

Last Updated on August 1st, 2023

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Aside from the type of wine that’s being produced, wine artisans name wine in two different ways. The first is to include the name of the region in which it was made, which is most common among naming wines.

The second is also common, which is adding the grape strain or variety in the name. Naming the wine after its grape strain is the most vintage way to name wine.

There’s more to Moscato’s meaning than you think!

The meaning of Moscato is that it’s the Italian name for Muscat Blanc. Muscat Blanc is the grape strain used to create Moscato wine. The grape strain, also known as just Muscat in English, is known to be the oldest wine grape in the world!

The grape variety is, in fact, so old that historians are to this day unsure if the grapes originated from the Romans, the Greeks, or the Phoenicians. However, Muscat began its journey somewhere along the Mediterranean Coast and now is grown all over the world, from the US to Australia!

A bottle of Moscato - there's more to its meaning than you think

There’s a difference between the meaning & definitions of Moscato.

Although meanings and definitions sound like we ultimately describe the same thing, it’s not that simple. According to Oxford Dictionary, a definition is a statement of the exact meaning of a word, especially in a dictionary. At the same time, meaning is what is meant by a word, text, concept, or action. With this being said, here’s how Moscato falls into meaning vs. definition:

Definition: a sweet Italian dessert wine.

Meaning: an Italian word meaning Muscat Blanc, the strain of grapes used to create Moscato wine.

What does the name Moscato mean?

The name Moscato is an Italian word for the grapes used to produce the wine. Although the Muscat grape variety is used in the production of Moscato, there are four different categories of the wine, and there’s a variety of different colors Muscat grapes hold, from red to white. 

Is Moscato an Italian word?

Yes, the word Moscato is derived from Italian, most commonly spoken in Italy. Below, I’ve listed some interesting facts about the language. Saluti! 

  • Italian is considered to be a romance language taken away from the Latin dialect. 
  • Italian is considered a universal language for classical music. 
  • Italian has greatly influenced English. For example, English words like broccoli, zucchini, quarantine, and many others are of Italian origin or descent. 

Who decided to name a wine Moscato?

According to the historic website Coppo 1892, it all started somewhere within the mid-1800s. A man named Carlo Gancia was studying techniques used in the production of sparkling wine. When he returned to his home in Canelli, an area in Asti, he began the production of Italian spumante – which, when translated to English, means ‘Moscato Champagne.’

Final thoughts on the meaning of Moscato

The meaning of Moscato is that it’s the Italian name for Muscat Blanc. Muscat Blanc is the grape strain used to create Moscato wine. The definition of Moscato is a sweet Italian dessert wine. However, the meaning of Moscato is an Italian word meaning Muscat Blanc, the strain of grapes used to create Moscato wine.

Moscato is derived from the Italian language, most commonly spoken in Italy. A man named Carlo Gancia began the production of Italian spumante – which, when translated to English, means ‘Moscato Champagne.’

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