11 Moscato Food Pairing Ideas You Can Make Tonight

Whether you’ve recently discovered the delightful nuances of Moscato or have been savoring it for years, good Moscato food pairing will take your wine (and meal) to the next level.

Moscato’s naturally sweet and fruity profile makes it an ideal pairing partner for light salads, fresh seafood, and creamy cheeses. Avoid strong earthy flavors, like garlic and smoke.

Here are some delightful ideas to pair with your next bottle of Moscato wine.

What’s Moscato Wine Like?

Moscato wines are known for their light and approachable character, offering a subtly sweet taste profile with prominent fruit notes such as pear, mandarin, and honeysuckle perfume. Typically featuring lower alcohol content (8% ABV), Moscato wines are popular for their easy-drinking nature and versatility in pairing with a variety of dishes.

As a general rule of thumb, if you’re wondering what to eat with Moscato wine, know that the foods that work well with Pinot Grigio will pair well with Moscato.

Both white wines are lighter whites that showcase fresh tree fruits. From salads to seafood, and cheese to ceviche, you’re in the right place when looking for the best Moscato food pairings for any occasion and any season.

Helpful Tip: Here’s a deep-dive into Muscat wine that will give you a full overview of the range of styles and flavors this little white grape can off you.

Here are everyday food pairings that work well with Moscato wine.

A General Guide to Moscato Good Pairing

Moscato wine and food pairings don’t need to be stressful. Use the wine’s light, fruity, perfumed, and sweet profile to enhance the flavors in your food. Here’s what you need to know:

• The delicate layers of flavor in Moscato will enhance the citrus notes in your food.
• Some excellent Moscato wine food pairings include zesty vinaigrettes, herb rubs, and sweet and sour combinations.
• Moscato’s sweetness will cut through chili spice.
• The tartness of Moscato will balance out creamy flavors.
• Moscato wine pairs beautifully with delicate flavors like herbs and green leafy salads.

Pairing Tip: A general best practice is to avoid pairing light, delicate white wines with heavy red meat dishes, rich gravies, or hearty red tomato sauces.

As you can see, Moscato food pairings are versatile and you have plenty of options to experiment. Here are some helpful ideas to get you thinking about Moscato food and wine pairings.

Helpful Tip: Here’s a quick post that gives 6 easy steps and a complete rundown of food and wine pairing basics if you’re curious.

11 of the Best Moscato Food Pairings 

There are an endless number of ways to combine Moscato food pairings, but here are 11 of my favorites.

Moscato Food Pairing #1 – Cheese

The classic food and wine pairing, cheese and Moscato, is always worth trying. Pair Moscato with fresh goat cheese, brie, gruyere, tangy yogurt, or even a mild white cheddar. 

Add some almonds or walnuts to your cheese plate to bring in earthy complexity and harmonize the tang between your Moscato and favorite cheeses. 

Experiment with other types of cheese pairings with Moscato. A nutty parmesan or provolone will pair beautifully with Moscato. Keep in mind that you want to pick cheeses that will contrast with the citrus, honey, and floral notes in your Moscato. A cheese with a nuttiness and some tang can help balance out your white wine. 

Helpful Tip: Check out this complete Moscato cheese pairing guide.

Moscato Food Pairing #2 – Grilled, Roasted, Raw Vegetables

Moscato’s lighter body and citrus core beg to be paired with vegetables. Grilled and roasted vegetables develop a slight caramelization and sweetness that balances out the wine’s tang. Alternatively, drizzle your vegetables with a little balsamic vinegar or lemon-infused olive oil for a bright twist.

Helpful Tip: Are you a white wine lover? Check out this list of other sweet white wines like Moscato.

Raw vegetables add an earthy crunch that will magnify Moscato’s flavor profile. Add a creamy herbed cheese or yogurt dip to your vegetable platter for a layered Moscato food pairing combination. 

Recipes that call for vegetables, like zucchini, carrots, asparagus, peas, cucumbers, and cabbage, will all pair seamlessly with Moscato wine. 

Moscato Food Pairing #3 – Ceviche

Moscato has that citrus edge with a little sweetness to it, which makes it a great white wine to pair with with ceviche. Moscato makes the perfect wine pairing option for ceviche starters. Moscato’s sweet backbone will wash through your mouth with the briny citrus seafood for an indulgent experience.

Tasting Tip: Learn how to figure out if your wine is dry or sweet with this helpful post.

Moscato Pairing Idea #4 – White Fish

Moscato enhances the subtle flavors of white fish such as tilapia, trout, sole, or sea bass. Sushi and sashimi also pair well with Moscato, especially if it has a hint of sweetness.

Prefer takeout? An easy Moscato wine pairing is fish and chips or a fish sandwich with french fries!

Moscato Pairing Idea #5 – Salad

Almost any salad becomes a perfect pairing with Moscato. Add a tangy vinaigrette or lemon-infused olive oil for a flavor explosion. Nuts, feta cheese, or shredded cheddar can balance Moscato’s sweetness. Ensure the salad includes herbs or green vegetables more balanced pairing.

What to Pair with Moscato Wine #6 – Sweet and Sour Asian Fusion

Moscato’s sweet and fruity notes make it an excellent companion for sweet and sour Asian dishes. Pair it with street noodles, sweet and sour pork, or sweet pickled vegetables. Look for off-dry Moscato to balance out the spice in your meal.

What to Pair with Moscato Wine #7 – Greek Food 

Moscato’s bright acidity complements Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy it with traditional Greek dishes like salads with feta, stuffed grape leaves, olives, and marinated artichokes. A light cucumber salad or a pita and hummus dip are calling for you. Along with a hammock.

Moscato Wine Pairing #8 – Poultry

Does Moscato go with chicken? Absolutely! Let your chicken sit overnight with an Italian marinate or herbed dressing, and you’re in for a treat with your Moscato wine and chicken pairing. Moscato goes well with Cornish game hens and turkey, too.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Turkey sandwiches and chicken salad sandwiches with some celery and carrot sticks work just as well. Moscato’s fruity personality brings life to any meal with chicken or turkey.

Moscato Wine Pairing #9 – Pork

Grilled pork chops with a mild spice rub or herbed pork roast work well with Moscato’s pear and apple core.

Tip: Avoid heavy BBQ sauces that may overpower Moscato, you want to marry the umami quality of the meat with the wine.

Moscato Wine Pairing #10 – Quiche

The classic French dish, quiche, makes a perfect Moscato pairing. Moscato cuts through the savory weight of buttery pastry crust and enriches the experience. Experiment with different ingredients like mushrooms, sautéed onion, or briney olives for a layered flavor profile.

Moscato Food Pairing #11 – Fruit Salad 

Off-dry Moscato wines are one of the very few wines you can pair with fresh fruit. The wine’s lively floral and fruity notes harmonize with the natural sweetness of assorted fruits, creating a delightful and palate-pleasing combination. What fruits work? Try any of these:

• Peach
• Apricot
• Citrus (e.g., orange, lemon)
• Mango
• Pineapple
• Apple
• Pear
• Nectarine
• Plum
• Strawberry
• Raspberry
• Blackberry
• Melon (e.g., cantaloupe, honeydew)
• Kiwi
• Grape

Ready to serve up your perfect Moscato food pairings?

Now that you have a sampling and know what to eat with Moscato, all that’s left is to get creative!

Whether you keep it simple with a chicken salad sandwich or opt for a full cheese and wine tasting, Moscato wines bring happiness to any meal. So, what are you going to try?

Thirsty for More?

Check out this post on 13 sweet white wine options if you’re curious about other wines like Moscato you might like to try.

Here’s a great post that goes into the differences between Moscato and rose wines that you might enjoy.

Probably the best way to learn about wine is by tasting different wines side-by-side. You can do this at home easily. Here’s a post that explains wine flights and how to set them up. If you’re curious about wine, this is a must-read.