Bartenura Moscato *Kosher

Bartenura Moscato is a kosher-labeled Moscato, a lightly sweet white wine in the style built on the Muscat grape. Wines of this type usually show a bright, perfumed nose of orange blossom, peach, apricot and ripe pear, with a hint of honeysuckle. On the palate, expect a gentle sweetness balanced by crisp acidity, so it tastes fresh rather than syrupy. Moscato in this style is generally low in alcohol and light in body. It carries no real tannin and no oak influence, and the finish is short, clean and fruity. Many examples also have a faint natural spritz that adds lift. Serve it well chilled, around 6 to 8°C (43 to 46°F), which keeps the sweetness in check and brings out the acidity. Cold from the refrigerator is fine. Decanting does nothing for a wine like this and only lets the aromatics and any fizz fade. A standard white wine glass or a small tulip-shaped glass works best. The narrower opening concentrates the floral and stone-fruit aromas, and a flute is a reasonable choice if you want to emphasize the sparkle. At the table, Moscato suits foods that can stand up to sweetness. Fresh fruit salads, peach or apricot tarts, almond biscotti, and light sponge cakes all match its profile. It also works against salt and mild heat, so try it with salty cheeses, prosciutto and melon, or mildly spiced dishes where the sugar softens the spice. Blue cheese with honey is another good match. Sweet wines generally taste best when the dish is at least as sweet as the glass, so a dry, savory main course will make it seem sugary. It also works on its own as a light aperitif or after-dinner pour. This is a drink-young bottle. Moscato's appeal is its fresh fruit and floral aromatics, which fade with time, so there is no reason to cellar it. Open it within a year or so of purchase, keep it cool and out of direct light, and finish an opened bottle within a day or two, resealed and refrigerated, while the fruit is still lively.