What Kind of Wine Is Arbor Mist Moscato?
Arbor Mist Moscato is a light-bodied sweet white wine from New York. Fruity, without being overly sweet, the wine has remarkable exotic and stone fruit flavors. Delicately crisp with a lingering finish, this blend has a refreshing taste beyond comparison. Moscato is a bubbly, sweet white, red, or rosé wine with a characteristic low alcohol content. It pairs amazingly with desserts or spicy appetizers. Made from the Muscat wine grape, Moscato wines show mostly flavors and aromas of orange blossom, red fruits, and peach.
Muscat is an ancient grape variety but managed to surge in popularity only in the last decade or so. As wineries started producing palatable, frizzante dessert wine examples, Moscato saw its sales growth beyond comparison. It even overtook Sauvignon Blanc in the United States, becoming the third most-sold wine in the country by the mid-2010s.
Arbor Mist Mango Strawberry Moscato Review
- Winery — Arbor Mist
- Country/Region — United States, New York, Canandaigua
- Type — American Moscato
- Aroma — Pineapple, Mango, Strawberry, Apple, Citrus
- Grapes — Muscat
- Taste — Cantaloupe, Peach, Apricot, Cherry, Watermelon, Lemon Zest, Honey, Coconut
- Alcohol Content — 6%
- Sugar — Semi-Sweet
- Pairing — Spicy Chicken Wings, Cured Meats, Sichuan Peppercorns, Indian Dishes, Soft Cheeses
If you need a sweet wine that is not exactly a wine but more like an alcoholic beverage, Arbor Mist Moscato might be for you. This Moscato is not the typical but rather a brighter, fresher example that caters to a completely different wine market than most dessert wines. Arbor Mist Moscato is pretty much a delicious and fun drink, and that is all there is to it. An easy-sipper to relax with!
Tasting Notes
The Arbor Mist Moscato flavor profile is sweet but crispy, full of natural fruit flavors. Wine fans should find pineapple, mango, and strawberry aromas in the nose and tastes of cantaloupe and apricot on the palate. Blended with orange, luscious lychee, and ripe peach juice flavorings, Arbor Mist Moscato is perfect poolside or relaxing at home with friends and family.
Appearance
Arbor Mist Moscato wine has a bright yellow hue. As expected, the wine’s appearance does not show fogginess, the core is translucent. Some vibrant peachy reflections develop on the sides, too, adding excitement. The tears of the wine are short and watery. With this charming color, Arbor Mist Moscato looks as summery and fancy as possible!
Aroma
The Arbor Mist Moscato aroma is refreshing and juicy, as pineapple, mango, and strawberry aromas define the nose. That said, as the wine sets in the glass, apple and citrus notes surface, too. The thing here is that Arbor Mist Moscato does not smell like a traditional Moscato, as it is on the lighter side. Its aromatic bouquet resembles an adult juice with wine inspirations. That is not bad, though. It is the way Arbor Mist Moscato is supposed to be: fresh and fruity.
Taste
Sweet but light-bodied, Arbor Mist Moscato is wonderful on the palate. Packed with tropical and stone fruit flavors, such as cantaloupe, peach, and apricot, this Moscato is delicious, smooth, and refreshing. Wine enthusiasts discern cherry, watermelon, and honey notes, too, as well as hints of lemon zest and coconut. The acidity is zippy and offers a pleasant effervescence to the taste buds, as Arbor Mist Moscato is carbonated. In this way, it remains fresh from the first sip to the last.
Finish
Arbor Mist Moscato has a medium and fruity finish. The cantaloupe, mango, and strawberry notes seem to linger, while the texture is creamy and honeyed. There is no bitterness or nutty elements. In every case, the Arbor Mist Moscato finish is representative of the palate and definitely expressive.
Rating
Arbor Mist Moscato has just the right amount of fruitiness, crispiness, and sweetness. The pleasant effervescence is delightful, too. I can only praise Arbor Mist for crafting such a refreshing beverage. Sure, this is not an Alsatian Moscato, but it never claimed to be. On the contrary, Arbor Mist Moscato is unpretentious and unsophisticated. It throws unnecessary elaborateness out of the window in favor of vibrancy, fizziness, and, ultimately, taste.
Arbor Mist Moscato Food Pairing
Arbor Mist Moscato is the perfect refreshment during summer when the sun is high. The secret to pairing Arbor Mist Moscato is balance. The wine is sweet, so try to pair it with foods that exhibit opposite flavors, such as spiciness, saltiness, or bitterness. Its sweet taste makes it challenging to pair Arbor Mist Moscato with main courses. So, instead, try to pair the wine with appetizers, desserts, or lightweight food choices. With its tangy blend of refreshing strawberry, mango, and cantaloupe, Arbor Mist Moscato is enjoyable with spicy chicken wings, cured meats, and Indian courses.
On top of that, the wine is great with a light pasta dish and ingredients, such as tomatoes, fresh basil, and dried oregano. Sichuan peppercorns also make a sexy food pairing with this fruity Moscato. As to the Arbor Mist Moscato cheese pairing, soft cheeses are the way to go. Brie, Camembert, Chèvre, and Gorgonzola are some of the cheeses you could try to pair the wine with. Serve them on a cheeseboard or use them in pasta or pizza. The Greek Anthotyros, translating to flowery cheese, is an excellent option, too. Spread a bit of honey on it and experience it with Arbor Mist Moscato.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Arbor Mist Moscato?
Arbor Mist Winery is a product of Arbor Mist, located in Canandaigua, New York. The winery produces alcoholic beverages that combine wines, such as Merlot, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Moscato, with fruit juice, fruit flavorings, and fructose corn syrup. Arbor Mist appeared for the first time on store shelves in 1998 and has made the best-selling wine debut since the 1970s. From originally offering just two different fruit varieties, today, Arbor Mist produces 14 diverse wine varieties. Their motto is “Great Tasting Wine with a Splash of Fruit.” Arbor Mist belongs to E. & J. Gallo Winery, the largest family-owned winery in California.
How Is Arbor Mist Moscato Made?
The Muscat grapes are picked when they are ripe. Drying or raising the grapes to concentrate grape sugars after harvesting is not typical for this wine style. These techniques add dried fruit characteristics that mask and overshadow the pure varietal nature. After harvest, the grapes are crushed, and the juice is separated from the skins. Some skin contact takes place to add color and increase the aromatic intensity of the wine, too.
That is further enhanced if the skin contact continues during the fermentation, which it usually does. The fermentation is cool and un-fermented grape juice is added to create the semi-sweet Moscato. Just as the fermentation completes, Arbor Mist Moscato strawberry flavorings are added to the final wine to create the distinctive Arbor Mist wine blend. The wine is bottled with carbon dioxide for a sparkling sensation. The dioxide also ensures that not all the sugar converts to alcohol, helping the wine maintain its sweet flavor.
Where Is Arbor Mist Moscato Made?
Contrary to the other American wine regions, New York is a grape-growing area dominated by hybrid vine species. That said, most of these hybrid grapes are used for producing jams and juices, as only a few are suitable for wine production, mainly due to their winter hardiness. But wines are made from international grape varieties, too. The most widely planted being Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
The most important area for wine production in New York, by far, is the Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area (AVA). It is best known for fascinating and award-winning wine examples. What makes Finger Lakes distinctive, almost eccentric, unlike other wine-making zones, is its natural setting. Deep glacial water bodies characterize the region, such as the Onondaga Lake in Syracuse or the Cayuga Lake in Ithaca. Or the quintuple assortment of Canadice, Canandaigua, Conesus, Hemlock, and Honeoye Lakes, south of Rochester. What they do, is trap and store heat well into the colder winter months, raising the air temperature of the nearby vineyards and extending the grape growing season. So, the grapes maximize their exposure to sunshine, reaching ripeness.
How to Serve Arbor Mist Moscato?
When it comes to serving wine, the temperature of the wine is crucial. But, often, people ignore this step and miss out on optimal aromatics and flavors because they opened their wine either too cold or too warm. As to Arbor Mist Moscato, as a light-to-medium-bodied white wine, it is best served very chilled at 45°F (7°C). The temperature rises as you pour the wine into the glass, in doing the character of Arbor Mist Moscato reaches its full potential. In this way, you can enjoy the complete spectrum of the wine’s stone-fruit and honey elements.
Furthermore, serve Arbor Mist Moscato in medium-sized white wine glasses to help it aerate. When the oxygen in the air comes into contact with the wine surface, it enhances the wine’s flavor profile. In this way, you help it open up and become rounded and tasty. Strive to keep Arbor Mist Moscato cool as you serve it. Take an ice bucket and fill it with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. The water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. Yet, over-chilling masks flavors and mutes aromatics in wines, whether red, white, or rosé.
How Much Does Arbor Mist Moscato Cost?
Arbor Mist Moscato price is very competitive. In fact, it has such a low price point that everyone can purchase it. Arbor Mist Moscato comes in at around $6 per 750ml bottle. Undoubtedly, then, wine fans can afford it without having to pay a hefty price.
How Long Does Arbor Mist Moscato Last?
The best way to experience Arbor Mist Moscato is to enjoy it while it’s young, right after purchasing it. Therefore, try to consume Arbor Mist Moscato within 12 months from the date of bottling. If you fail to do so, you risk decreasing the wine’s refreshingly sweet personality. Consequently, avoid putting Arbor Mist Moscato away for maturation, as Moscatos do not benefit much from bottle-aging.
How Many Calories Does Arbor Mist Moscato Have?
Arbor Mist Moscato is a perfect sweet wine choice unless you are on a diet. The reason for this is that as a dessert wine, Arbor Mist Moscato has high calories. In 1 fluid ounce of the drink, there are about 23 calories, equating to approximately 140 calories per serving. The calorie breakdown is 0 grams of fats, 1 gram of sodium, 23 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of protein, and at least 2 grams of total sugars. Therefore, the Arbor Mist Moscato calories are high. Wine enthusiasts who monitor their calorie intake must think twice before buying this wine.
For those interested in the alcoholic concentration of the wine, the Arbor Mist Moscato alcohol content is 6% ABV. That is one of the lowest alcohol levels of any Moscato wine. That said, wine drinkers should still avoid excessive consumption and enjoy the wine responsibly. On top of that, remember that unless designated on the label, wines are not vegan. During wine-making, wines are clarified through fining, where the most commonly fining agents are animal-based. Vegans, consequently, must consider this before sipping Arbor Mist Moscato.
Conclusion
If you need a sweet wine that is not exactly a wine but more like an alcoholic beverage, Arbor Mist Moscato might be for you. This Moscato is not the typical but rather a brighter, fresher example that caters to a completely different wine market than most dessert wines. Arbor Mist Moscato is pretty much a delicious and fun drink, and that is all there is to it. An easy-sipper to relax with!
