If you’re a cheese lover, you know how important it is to pair the right cheese with the right wine.
When it comes to Moscato, a sweet and fruity wine with a slight fizz, it can be challenging to find the perfect cheese pairing that complements its unique characteristics.
That’s why we’ve done the research to help you discover the best cheese for Moscato.
Whether you prefer soft and creamy cheeses or pungent and salty ones, we’ve got you covered.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 cheeses that pair beautifully with Moscato, including specific wine recommendations for each cheese.
So, sit back, pour yourself a glass of Moscato, and get ready to discover some new cheese pairings that will take your wine and cheese game to the next level.
What is Moscato?
Moscato is a type of white wine that is known for its sweet, fruity taste and light effervescence. It is made from the Muscat grape, which is grown in various regions around the world, including Italy, Spain, Australia, and California. Moscato has a lower alcohol content compared to other wines, typically ranging from 5% to 8%, making it a popular choice for those who prefer a lighter wine.
Moscato is also known for its distinct aroma, which is often described as floral, with notes of orange blossom, peach, and apricot. The wine’s natural sweetness is balanced by its acidity, which helps to prevent it from becoming cloying. Moscato is available in different styles, including still, semi-sparkling, and fully sparkling, each with its own unique characteristics.
In recent years, Moscato has become a popular wine choice, particularly among younger drinkers and those who are new to wine. Its sweet taste and lower alcohol content make it an accessible option for those who are not yet accustomed to drier, more complex wines.
Pairing Moscato with Cheese
When it comes to pairing Moscato with cheese, there are a few things to keep in mind. Moscato’s sweetness and fruitiness can make it a challenging wine to pair with certain cheeses, particularly those that are strong or overpowering in flavor.
However, Moscato’s acidity and effervescence can help cut through the richness of creamy cheeses, making it an excellent choice for pairing with soft and mild varieties.
When selecting a cheese to pair with Moscato, it’s important to consider the cheese’s texture, intensity, and flavor profile.
Soft and creamy cheeses, such as Brie and Camembert, can stand up to Moscato’s bright fruit profile without overpowering it. Pungent cheeses, such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola, can also pair well with Moscato, as the wine’s sweetness can help balance the cheese’s saltiness.
As a general rule, it’s best to pair wines and cheeses that come from the same region.
For example, Moscato d’Asti, a sparkling wine from the Piedmont region of Italy, pairs well with local cheeses such as Castelmagno or Robiola. It’s also important to consider the age of the cheese when selecting a pairing. Younger, milder cheeses tend to pair well with lighter wines, such as Moscato, while aged, more complex cheeses are better suited for bolder wines.
Soft Cheeses that Pair well with Moscato
Soft cheeses are a great option for pairing with Moscato due to their creamy texture and mild flavor profile. These cheeses are typically made from cow’s or goat’s milk and are aged for a shorter period, giving them a softer, smoother texture.
Some of the best soft cheeses to pair with Moscato include:
- Brie – This French cheese is known for its creamy texture and delicate flavor. Its mild flavor profile pairs well with Moscato’s sweet and fruity taste.
- Camembert – Another French cheese, Camembert is similar to Brie but has a slightly stronger flavor. Its creamy texture and tangy taste make it an excellent pairing with Moscato.
- Triple Cream – This cheese is made by adding extra cream to the milk during the cheese-making process, resulting in an incredibly rich and creamy cheese. Its buttery flavor profile makes it an ideal pairing for Moscato.
When pairing Moscato with soft cheeses, it’s important to select a wine that is not too sweet, as this can overpower the cheese’s delicate flavors. Some excellent Moscato wines to pair with soft cheeses include Moscato d’Asti and Passito di Pantelleria, which we’ll explore in more detail in later sections.
Pungent Cheeses that Pair well with Moscato
Pungent cheeses are known for their strong flavor and aroma, making them a challenging pairing option for many wines. However, Moscato’s sweetness and acidity can help balance the saltiness of pungent cheeses, making it an excellent pairing option.
Some of the best pungent cheeses to pair with Moscato include:
- Roquefort – This French blue cheese has a distinct flavor and aroma, with a salty and sharp taste. When paired with Moscato, the wine’s sweetness can help balance the cheese’s intense flavor.
- Gorgonzola – Another blue cheese, Gorgonzola is made from cow’s milk and has a tangy and slightly spicy flavor. Its creamy texture and bold flavor make it an excellent pairing for Moscato.
- Taleggio – This Italian cheese has a pungent aroma and a buttery flavor. Its soft texture and earthy taste make it an excellent pairing for Moscato.
When pairing Moscato with pungent cheeses, it’s important to select a wine that is not overly sweet, as this can overwhelm the cheese’s flavor. Moscato d’Asti and Passito di Pantelleria are both excellent wine choices for pairing with pungent cheeses, as their sweetness and acidity can help balance the cheese’s saltiness.
Blue Cheese and Moscato Pairing
Blue cheese is a type of pungent cheese that is known for its strong flavor and distinctive blue veins. Due to its intense flavor profile, blue cheese can be a challenging cheese to pair with wine.
However, Moscato’s sweetness and acidity make it an excellent pairing option for blue cheese.
When selecting a blue cheese to pair with Moscato, it’s important to choose a cheese with a creamy texture and mild flavor profile.
Some of the best blue cheeses to pair with Moscato include:
- Stilton – This English blue cheese has a crumbly texture and a creamy, tangy flavor. Its mild flavor profile makes it an excellent pairing for Moscato.
- Cabrales – This Spanish blue cheese is made from a blend of cow’s, goat’s, and sheep’s milk, giving it a complex flavor profile. Its creamy texture and tangy taste make it an excellent pairing for Moscato.
- Gorgonzola – As mentioned earlier, Gorgonzola is another blue cheese that pairs well with Moscato due to its tangy and slightly spicy flavor profile.
Moscato d’Asti and Passito di Pantelleria
Moscato d’Asti and Passito di Pantelleria are two specific types of Moscato wine that are particularly well-suited for pairing with cheese.
Moscato d’Asti is a sparkling wine from the Piedmont region of Italy. It is made using the same Muscat grape as other Moscato wines, but is produced using the Charmat method, which involves a secondary fermentation in large, pressurized tanks. This results in a wine with a light, effervescent texture and a lower alcohol content compared to other sparkling wines.
Passito di Pantelleria, on the other hand, is a dessert wine made from sun-dried Zibibbo grapes grown on the island of Pantelleria off the coast of Sicily. The grapes are left to dry in the sun for several weeks before being pressed, resulting in a sweet, concentrated wine with a complex flavor profile.
When pairing Moscato d’Asti with cheese, it’s important to select soft cheeses with a mild flavor profile.
Some excellent cheese pairings for Moscato d’Asti include:
- Ricotta – This Italian cheese has a creamy texture and mild flavor that pairs well with Moscato d’Asti’s fruity and effervescent profile.
- Castelmagno – A semi-hard cheese from the Piedmont region of Italy, Castelmagno has a nutty and slightly spicy flavor that pairs well with Moscato d’Asti.
- Robiola – Another soft cheese from the Piedmont region, Robiola has a tangy and slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with Moscato d’Asti’s sweetness.
When pairing Passito di Pantelleria with cheese, it’s important to select stronger cheeses with a more complex flavor profile.
Some excellent cheese pairings for Passito di Pantelleria include:
- Parmigiano-Reggiano – This Italian hard cheese has a nutty and slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with Passito di Pantelleria’s concentrated sweetness.
- Roquefort – The salty and sharp flavor of Roquefort pairs well with Passito di Pantelleria’s sweetness, creating a balanced and flavorful pairing.
- Gouda – This Dutch cheese has a caramel-like sweetness that pairs well with the honeyed notes of Passito di Pantelleria.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Moscato is a versatile wine that can pair well with a variety of cheeses, from soft and creamy to pungent and salty.
When selecting a cheese to pair with Moscato, it’s important to consider the cheese’s texture, intensity, and flavor profile, as well as the wine’s sweetness and acidity. Moscato d’Asti and Passito di Pantelleria are both excellent wine choices for pairing with cheese, each with their own unique characteristics and flavor profiles.
Some of the best cheese pairings for Moscato include soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and Triple Cream, as well as pungent cheeses like Roquefort, Gorgonzola, and Taleggio.
When pairing Moscato with blue cheese, it’s important to select a cheese with a creamy texture and mild flavor profile, such as Stilton or Cabrales.
Overall, pairing wine and cheese is a fun and delicious way to explore different flavor combinations and enhance your dining experience. With these recommendations for the best cheeses for Moscato, you’re sure to impress your guests and take your wine and cheese game to the next level.