A Moscato food pairing for brunch – why not? It’s low alcohol wine, bubbly and crisp, and fruity but not too sweet. >
Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year I thought of my favorite Moscato food pairing for my Wine Pairing Weekend group’s annual ode to February 14th. Hungry? I know I am.
Not Your Classic Moscato Pairing: Full English, please!
When I first wrote about Moscato d’Asti with a Full English Breakfast (something I like to call #MoscatoForBreakfast) in The Ultimate Guide to Piedmont Food and Wine Pairing the naysayers lined up. I get it.
Eggs and bacon are quite the contrast to the traditional sweet pairing of this crisp frizzante. Last spring I set out to prove Moscato d’Asti pairs well with a salty, greasey breakfast menu. No, I’m not suggesting you start your work day with a glass of vino next to your eggs and bacon. It’s all about brunch. And, that’s how I did it.
Moscato For Breakfast: The Players
I gathered a renegade group here in the Langhe and Roero to give it a go. I enlisted the help of British friends for the food prep, Lesley and Darryl Baldwin of wine blog PiemonteMio.com. Then, I solicited two of my favorite Moscato d’Asti producers to provide the vino. On hand were Demarie from the Roero and Ca’ del Baio from Barbaresco.
Next, I filled the tables with area wine producers, Piemontese, expats, a local wine writer, and we even had some super cool wine tour clients to join the fun. We started with an apertivo spread of local meats and kept tradition with torta di nocciole – hey, if it ain’t broke! Who doesn’t love a good hazelnut cake!? When all was said and done I’m pleased to report that the verdict was a rousing YES! to the Full English Breakfast Moscato food pairing.
Wine Pass: Moscato For Breakfast: The Wine Pairing You Weren’t Expecting
I have since worked with Demarie to present it to visiting wine bloggers. Read what The Wine Wankers had to say about #MoscatoForBreakfast. And, check out how Penny from Adventures of a Carry-on liked it! Demarie puts their own spin on the Full English, using in-season vegetables from their garden. Often with the addition of fried red peppers and, of course the torta di nocciole.
#MoscatoForBreakfast: It’s a Thing
Most people immediately think of sweet desserts for this wine. And, they work fantastically. But, a good Moscato d’Asti is not a super sweet drink – despite some of the wines found at lower prices in larger markets like the U.S. That in mind, it can be a great compliment to salty dishes.
Moscato d’Asti is a frizzante wine, not actually a sparkling at all. The bubbles come from what’s called an interrupted fermentation. This differs from a traditional spumante or Metodo Classico wine that gets its bubbles from secondary fermentation.
Read more from Wine Pass: 13 Things to Know about Piemonte’s Sparkling Wines
On the nose are floral aromas with hints of peaches and apricot. The palate shows medium acidity with big, juicy fruit flavors of pear, apple, peach, and apricot. The fizzy and crisp drink lightens up the salt-heavy menu. And, the acidity cuts through all that grease.
Moscato Food Pairing: Full English Breakfast Recipe
- Eggs: Fried, poached, or scrambled.
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Grilled Tomato
- Grilled Mushrooms
- Baked Beans
- Black Pudding
- Fried Bread or Toast with Butter
Click for Jamie Oliver’s complete Full English recipe.
Moscato d’Asti Buying Guide
Here is a short list of some Moscato d’Asti that are worth a try. All can be found in limited quantities in the U.S. And, each are worth a visit when in the area:
- Azienda Agricola, Demarie Moscato d’Asti DOCG
- Ca’ del Baio, 101 Moscato d’Asti DOCG
- Giovanni Doglia, Casa di Bianco Mosacto d’Asti DOCG
- Isolabella del Croce, Valdiserre Moscato d’Asti DOCG
Get your own bottle!
Win yourself a bottle in The Great Piedmont Wine Giveaway from Lazenne and try your own Moscato Food pairing – obviously, I recommend breakfast-style! Enter to win a Lazenne Wine Check luggage with 12 bottles of Piedmont wines (3 bottles from 4 different producers!) Check out PleaseBringMeMyWine.com for details and to register.
And, what is your favorite Moscato food pairing? Please, share below!
Read more Valentine’s Day Recipes!
Don’t miss the other Valentine’s Day pairings from the rest of the Wine Pairing Weekend crew! If you get a chance, follow our Twitter Chat at 11:00 a.m. ET, hashtag #WinePW.
- Tasting Pour:
- Love Letter Pastries and Brandborg Winery Pinot Noir
- Cherry Hazelnut Scones
- Food Wine Click: Perfect Wine for a Sparkling Valentine’s Day Celebration
- Enofylz Wine Blog:Valentine’s Surf and Turf with a Twist + Champagne Pairing
- Pull That Cork: Shepherd’s Pie and Burgundy: A Cozy Valentine’s Day Pairing
- The Armchair Sommelier: My Squashy Valentine
- Vino Travels: Sparkle Your Valentine’s Day with Brachetto from the Roero with Demarie
- Cooking Chat:
- Cauliflower Kale Soup paired with Pinot
- Sweet Strawberry Cream with Chocolate and Wine Pairing
- Rockin Red Blog: Valentine’s Day in the South of France with #WinePW
- Curious Cuisiniere: Gougéres (French Cheese Puffs) and Blanquette de Limoux
- Grape Experiences:
- Draceana Wines: Need a Valentine’s Wine? As You Wish.
- Wine Pass: A Lovely Red Risotto with Brachetto d’Acqui
- Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla :
- Cherry-Glazed Chicken with Hahn’s Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
- Barley Stuffed Acorn Squash & Zesty Crayfish with Landmark Vineyards’ Overlook Chardonnay
- Wild Boar Mushroom Pot Pies with Landmark Vineyards’ Overlook Pinot Noir
- Seared Venison Medallions with Justin’s Cabernet Sauvignon
- Rosé-Cured Salmon with Balletto Vineyards’ Brut Rosé
- Epoisses, Crackers, & Cremant de Limoux
- Christy from Confessions of a Culinary Diva:
- Valentine’s Day Steakhouse Dinner at Home
- 50 Oysters a Day & Other Tales of Seduction
- Pick a Picpoul de Pinet for Your Valentine
- Smokin’ Duck & Pinot
- Valentine’s Take-In Dinner
- Apple of My Eye Pork Chops & Pinot
- Lobster, Corn Fritters & Balletto
I have to try this sometime because I can see the skepticism of moscato with breakfast, but I totally trust your judgement ; )m looks like you had a great get together.
Next time you are here, we’ll do it with an assortment of Moscatos! And, the kiddos can play! Hee hee.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
What a fun idea! Looks like a wonderful brunch!
Thanks, Sarah! It was a great time! It’s always fun to get a mish mash of cultures, both with people and products.
Cin cin! Val
Looks delish! I’ll have to try a moscato at my next brunch.
Oh, yes – do! The producers and I talk all the time about the need for education on a good Moscato in the States.
The cheap, sickly sweet stuff give it such a bum rap. It’s too bad because Moscato sales is on the rise in the U.S.
People need to taste the difference to see that spending a couple dollars more is worth it for the good stuff.
Happy Valentine’s!
I always say people who don’t think wine goes with breakfast are doing breakfast wrong. Why wouldn’t a sweet wine go with bacon? Bacon makes an appearance in all kinds of desserts. And if I have sausage with pancakes I dip the sausage in the syrup. I say bring on the sweet wine for breakfast.
You are speaking my language, Jade! And, what’s better than a boozy brunch!?
Cheers!
A delicious brunch! Thanks for citing our Wine Pass article 😀
One thing that stood out to me when drinking Moscato for breakfast (and Brachetto for lunch), was that a glass of it is perfect–it’s light and doesn’t make me feel too sleepy to take on the rest of the day.
Gotta drink more of it!
Totally with you, Diana!
I am trying to come up with another fun, unique Piedmont food pairing to shock the locals and Piemontephiles ;). Ideas!?
Cin cin!
Oh that’ll be fun to think of! Nothing off the top of my head…but I’ll let you know if I think of something interesting and scandalous
ha ha! love it ‘scandalous’. a lot of people were surprised at the idea of chinese food with nebbiolo. but, it didn’t get vehement disdain like Moscato with eggs and bacon.
challenge accepted: we must find the next piedmont wine pairing scandal!
OOH. moscato for breakfast, what a concept! Love it! I think its great that you like to think outside the box and “challenge” they typical! Kudos to you!
Thanks, Lori!
It’s fun to try to do it here, where not everyone is open to seeing beyond the traditional. I also think doing something fun like this can open people up to a wine they may have overlooked, like Moscato d’Asti.
I hope you try it and let me know what you think. Cheers! Val
just wondering why you spell hazelnuts ‘nicciole’ instead of ‘nocciole’ ?
It’s been repeated a few times in the article.
#justsayin
Tx…Thomas
Thanks for reading, Thomas.
What can I say? I screwed up. Thanks for letting me know.
You continue to amaze me with your joy for food, friends, wine and life. I’ve had Moscato for brunch and love it! Fruity wine and bacon are simpatico! Lambrusco is a good branch choice as well. Hope to see you soon!!
Thanks, Mike! Lambrusco – what a great idea for brunch, too! Once I’m free and clear to consume again, I’ll give that a go!
Hope all is well for you and you enjoyed the Bronco’s win!
Talk soon! Val