pink vs. Moscato - What's the difference?

Wine always enhances food. By complementing the natural flavors of food, each sip becomes a delicious experience. However, getting into the details of wine can be quite intimidating, especially for beginners.

After all, there is much more than a red or a white. Wine comes in all sorts of shades with a wide variety of flavors and nuances. Among the most famous wines that do not fit into the categories of simply red or white are rosé and moscato.

But what is the difference between rosé and moscato? Although both rosé and moscato rosé have a similar pink appearance, rosé gets its color through a process called maceration, while moscato rosé is a blend of white and red grapes. Moscato is also a sweeter wine, while rosé has a drier flavor profile.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about these wines as we explore the crucial differences in their production and flavor profiles.

This guide aims to help you improve your dining and consumption experience with these two rosé wines. So don’t stop reading!

how rosé is made

Rosé is perhaps the most famous type of rosé wine. It gets its distinctive pink coloration from the production process, known as maceration. To make the rosé, the grapes are crushed with the skin on.

A fresh glass of rosé.

The skins are then left in contact with the juice for a short period. This contact period can last between 2 and 20 hours. The longer the skins are left, the deeper the pink color will be.

Note that this is different from making red wines, where the skins are left to ferment with the juice all the time.

The type of grape used and the time the skins are left in contact with the juice will affect the flavor, dryness and intensity of the color of the rosé.

These are the most commonly used grapes to make rosé:

• Merlot
• Tempranillo
• Malbec
• Zinfandel
• syrah
• Grenache
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Sangiovese
• pinot noir

The grapes used are used alone or as part of a blend. It should also be borne in mind that the choice of grape can vary depending on the country of origin of the wine.

For example, a rosé from Spain will likely come from a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes. On the other hand, the Italian rosé will probably use Sangiovese grapes.

The flavor profile of rosé

Compared to red wines, the flavors of rosé will seem more subtle and tame. Those with a more sensitive palate will also detect hints of citrus mixed with some nuances of strawberry, cherry and raspberry.

Rosés are perfect wines for spring and summer. Best served chilled, they bring a refreshing vivacity to the table that’s a perfect fit for warm weather.

It may also come as a surprise to most that rosé wines are incredibly versatile and food-friendly. Its lighter body and delicate flavor make it perfect for even the heaviest meals.

Not only does it go well with seafood and steak, but it also works well with other red meats like ham.

Here are some of our recommended pairings with rosé:

• Salmon
• Chicken salad
• Duck
• Turkey
• Mutton
• Soft cheese
• charcuterie

It’s also worth noting that due to its flavor profile, rosé is a great wine for picnics and barbecues. Surprisingly, its understated and subtle flavor can easily complement the strong flavors of your grilled burgers and hot dogs.

How Moscato is made

Moscato wine is another very popular type of wine. As its name indicates, this type of wine is made from the muscatel grape. More than 200 variations of this type of grape are known, as it comes in a myriad of different shades and colors.

Some are red, white, pink or gold. The rosé moscato, specifically, is a mixture of white grapes with a red variety.

You can drink moscato wine in several ways. The best known types are the sparkling moscato and the calm one. Here are the ways you can tell them apart:

• Sparkling Moscato - This is the wine you’ll likely get when you order a moscato at the restaurant, as it’s the most common and well-known type of moscato. It is a white wine with a sweet taste. You can instantly identify it by its bubbly appearance and effervescent taste.
• Tranquil Moscato - This type of moscato is also known as Muscat blanc. It is made with white muscatel grapes. As its name suggests, it lacks the characteristic effervescence of moscato. Most moscato aficionados find this wine disconcerting, as the lack of zing makes a world of difference in flavor and texture. Furthermore, moscato wines are also incredibly dry, another source of disgust for moscato drinkers.

Moscato flavor profile

If you’ve had your fair share of wines, you’re probably familiar with Sauvignon Blanc, the most famous white wine there is. For those of you who don’t know, that particular wine is known for its sour and dry flavors.

A white moscato.

Moscato provides your palate with the opposite.

Moscato is known for being sweet and aromatic. Plus, one sip will provide you with an explosion of fruit flavors.

The characteristic sweet flavor of the wine comes from the essence of the muscatel grapes. These grapes are known to contain high levels of residual sugar but very little acidity.

A single sip from a glass of moscato will tell you a lot about its traits and characteristics. Although the fragrant aroma is undeniable, it is far from overpowering.

Its fruity and floral undertones can also hint at notes of apricot, citrus, and peach, along with elderflower petals.

As a general rule, you should pair your wines with complementary flavors. So it probably comes as no surprise that this sweet Italian white wine is incredibly popular as a dessert wine.

After all, its distinctively sweet flavor and effervescence make moscato the perfect addition to after-dinner treats.

However, it always surprises many that moscato can also be incredibly versatile. For example, it works well with spicy food, as well as a wide range of Asian cuisines.

Listed below are some of the dishes with which you can pair your moscato:

• Blue cheese
• meringue pie
• hazelnut desserts
• coffee cake
• roasted nuts
• Cajun Style Chicken Wings
• thai crab curry
• szechuan beef
• cured meats

It must also be said here that moscato works well enough as a dessert on its own. This is because the sweet taste of wine is an effective palate cleanser.

Just remember to always serve it cold, as it helps bring out the fruity and floral nuances of the wine.

So which do you choose?

There is no denying that both rosé and moscato are great wines in their own right.

This comparison guide is not meant to tell you which is superior. In the end, as any sommelier will tell you, it often comes down to your personal preferences and your state of mind.

For example, if you’re hosting a dinner with heavy, oily, and meaty dishes, you should consider drinking something more refined and understated.

This will help complete the meal and round out the flavors. In situations like this, pink is a perfect choice.

Rosé is perfect if you like red wines but fancy something lighter. Keep in mind that these wines are drier than most whites, but still retain their ethereal qualities.

When you take a sip, you’ll probably appreciate the light notes of strawberry and rose petals.

On the other hand, if you are looking to finish off a light meal, then perhaps the sweetness of the moscato will do the trick for you. After all, its effervescent and frothy texture is always delicious.

In addition, the natural sweetness of moscato works perfectly with all kinds of desserts.

Other differences to note

If you’ve stuck with us this far, the major differences between rosé and moscato should be much clearer by now. However, there are also many minor differences.

Here’s a rundown of what we know and some of the finer details to remember.

Comparison between rosé and moscato