All About Orange Muscat

As it's name implies, aromas of oranges and the flavor of orange blossom predominate. In fact, it's French (Muscat Fleur d’Orange) and Italian names (Moscato Fior d’Arancio) both mean "Orange Blossom Muscat".

Orange Muscat is believed to have originated in either Italy or France and DNA evidence shows it is a cross between Muscat a Petit Grains and Chasselas - two wines I've yet to try. Though it's origins are from Europe, Orange Muscat production is small and is concentrated mostly in the U.S. and Australia.

While most of us are familiar with the sweet, dessert wine version, our Orange Muscat is fermented to dryness - meaning no residual sugar remains. Because it's dry, I joking say that this wine is okay to drink during "Dry January". Orange Muscat also has a relatively low acidity, making this wine is perfect for warmer days.

So what would you pair a dry Orange Muscat with?

Our dry style of Orange Muscat pairs well with savory dishes that are not too spicy. Here are some suggestions: Foods and Entrees pairings: Pork, chicken, fish, shellfish and veal dishes with spicy or sweet sour sauces. Examples include Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Spanish and BBQ

Cheese Pairings: Brie, Camembert, Feta, goat cheeses, Muenster, Raclette and Swiss

Oranges are considered to provide good luck and fortune in certain regions (China, Mediterranean, Middle East) because their golden-orange hue is somewhat like that of gold. We made Orange Muscat our Wine of the Month for January 2021 because at this time, we can all use a bit of good luck!