Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato

Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato is a fruit-forward sparkling dessert wine from Massachusetts, labeled under the Esplanda brand. Pink Moscato in this style is built on Muscat's floral, grapey aromatics, and the usual result is a sweet, light-bodied wine with a gentle fizz. Expect peach, ripe strawberry, raspberry and orange blossom on the nose, with a touch of lychee or rose petal. Tannin is essentially absent and oak is not part of the style. The sweetness is balanced by moderate acidity and a soft, frothy mousse, and the finish is clean and fruity rather than long or complex. Alcohol is typically low for the category, but check the label for the exact figure. Serve it well chilled, around 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F), which keeps the sweetness fresh and the bubbles lively. A couple of hours in the refrigerator, or about 30 minutes in an ice bath, gets it there. Don't decant it, since that only knocks out the carbonation. A tulip-shaped white wine glass or a flute works best. Both concentrate the floral and berry aromas, and the narrower opening preserves the fizz longer than a wide coupe. The sweetness makes this a better match for food with some heat or salt than for rich main courses. Spicy dishes such as Thai green curry, Szechuan chicken or jalapeño poppers sit well against it, because the sugar softens the spice. Salty and creamy cheeses like brie, goat cheese or prosciutto-wrapped melon also work. For dessert, try fresh strawberries, pavlova, lemon tart or a simple fruit salad. Avoid pairing it with desserts that are sweeter than the wine, since that makes it taste thin and tart. It also works as a base for light spritzers with sparkling water and fresh berries, or poured over sorbet as a float. This is a drink-now bottle. Light, aromatic sweet sparkling wines are made for freshness, and the fruit and fizz fade with time rather than develop. Store it upright in a cool, dark place and open it within a year or so of purchase. Once opened, a sparkling wine stopper will hold the bubbles for a day in the fridge, though it's best finished the same evening.