Moscato Sangria Recipe: How to Make Sangria Moscato

Moscato sangria is a chilled wine cocktail consisting of Moscato wine, fresh fruit, and liqueur. Moscato wine comes from the Muscat grape, which produces a sweet dessert wine. White Moscato wine is the most common, but pink and red varieties are also available. Pink Moscato consists of mainly white Moscato with a touch of merlot; meanwhile, red Moscato uses both red and black Muscat grapes.

Moscato sangria differs from red sangria (the more traditional sangria) in that the latter uses red wine, which pairs better with warm spices and darker fruits, such as blackberries, blueberries, and cranberries. Mixologists often combine fruity red wine with simple syrup and a liqueur, such as orange liqueur. In contrast, Moscato sangria recipes rely on the sweetness of the particular wine, rather than a simple syrup.

Moscato sangria and other cocktail recipes similar to white wine sangria are popular summer cocktails for barbecues and other spring or summer get-togethers, such as birthday parties, Mother’s Day brunches, or weddings. Serve the fruity alcoholic refreshment over ice or allow guests to help themselves by way of a pitcher, punch bowl, or beverage dispenser.

To adjust the taste of Moscato sangria, add—or make available to your guests—seltzer or sparkling water, which helps cut down the sangria’s sweetness. Fizz naturally decreases the sweetness in wine, which is why sparkling wine tastes drier than still wine.

Moscato wine is a dessert wine, but its sweet flavors pair well with certain savory dishes. Here are four foods to consider pairing with Moscato sangria:

1. 1. Fish tacos: Marinate fresh cod or haddock in lime juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Then grill the fish until it’s flaky and nestle it in a flour tortilla with a cabbage slaw and fresh lemon juice to finish the fish tacos. The marinade’s acidity and the fish’s mild flavor will pair well with the sweet wine and fresh fruit in a Moscato sangria.
2. 2. Grilled steak with chimichurri: The sweetness and acidity of a summer sangria contrasts pleasantly with a meaty grilled steak and fresh chimichurri sauce, cutting through the fat in both.
3. 3. Pasta al Limone: Moscato wine’s sweetness sometimes overpowers its slight acidity; however, a creamy lemon pasta brings forward the Moscato’s natural acidity, which the sweet fresh fruit and liqueur in a Moscato sangria balance nicely.
4. 4. Watermelon and feta salad: This sweet and salty salad pairs well with a sugary and acidic sangria. Toss cubes of watermelon with cubes of feta or skewer the ingredients for a handheld appetizer. Pairing a watermelon feta salad with Moscato brings out the watermelon flavors already in the wine.