By BARBARA NOWAK
and BEVERLY PITTMAN
The Saucy Sisters, for Brentwood Home Page
Holiday partying is in full swing, and this year one drink has taken center stage. Moscato!  Every party we’ve attended or read about (OK, New York Post’s Page 6 is research!) has served its guests this wildly popular wine.

Moscato wine is also called Muscat for the grape. There are hundreds of styles that range in color from white to almost black. The Muscat grape is grown in temperate climates – historically Italy and Greece, but now California and Australia.  It’s one of the oldest grapes known to man.

So why is it so popular now? Think 1960s Lambrusco or 1990s White Zinfandel. (Well, some of us can remember those days!) New and younger wine consumers are attracted to the sweetness and slight effervescence of Moscato. And those “youngsters” will play a huge role in future U.S. wine consumption.

U.S. sales of this “old” grape increased 73% just this year. And, it’s not only the younger crowd doing the drinking. Hispanics and African-Americans – traditionally not wine buyers – are now buying the wine – and promoting it.

On a recent show with Anderson Cooper, Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes announced the launch of her new Moscato brand called, Miss Miscato. And several U.S. rappers including Waks Flocka and Kendrick Lamar have included this once-ridiculed grape in their popular songs. 

Call it Moscato sales madness. And it’s music to winemakers’ ears. Gallo is selling six times the amount of Moscato wine than just three years ago. Sutter Home, Berringer and Robert Mondavi are close behind. (Do those names ring a bell with White Zin?)

All the big U.S. wine companies are scrambling to make as much as possible – even buying bulk Moscato wine from Spain and Italy.

We’re always thrilled when new wine drinkers find something they enjoy. It’s why we love this business. There’s so much variety and something for everyone. In the end, it’s about sharing something fun and new with friends.

Here’s to Moscato!  Our old, new friend.

Cheers!

Barbara and Beverly

The Saucy Sisters are wine and spirits experts with a twist. A twist of humor, that is, that they use in their books and in their live performances.  Their new book, The Saucy Sisters Guide to Wine – What Every Girl Should Know Before She Unscrews, is now available at www.SaucySisters.com .   You can call them with your comments at 615-807-1743 or email them at Saucies@SaucySisters.com.