Moscato

Dessert · Light · Sweet

The Muscat grape made into sweet, low-alcohol, aromatic wines. Asti is the sparkling expression; still versions range from dry (rare) to dessert-sweet (common). Always smells like grapes.

Works with Moscato Zabaglione With Cornmeal Cookies · Moscato And Melon Jelly And Minted Melon Salsa · Moscato-roasted Pears And Cider-poached Apples

Fortified · Full · Sweet

California fortified wines — port-style and sherry-style bottlings (legally called something else now), often outstanding values from old-vine producers.

California or Pacific Northwest late-harvest white — usually Riesling or Gewürztraminer, picked overripe for concentrated sweetness. Honey, peach, ginger.

Red · Full · Dry

The benchmark for full-bodied red — structured, age-worthy, unapologetic. Black currant, graphite, and tobacco lead into firm tannins that demand protein on the plate. Decant young bottles; cellar the serious ones.

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

An uncatalogued varietal or single-vineyard wine. Taste before pairing: assess color, weight, and any obvious sweetness, then plate accordingly.

Spätlese-and-beyond Riesling — overripe grapes giving wines with measurable residual sugar balanced by Mosel-level acid. Honey, peach, slate; ages magnificently.

Red · Medium · Dry

Italian red wine, broadly — Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Montepulciano, Aglianico, or a regional blend. Always built around food.

Red · Light · Dry

Burgundy's most temperamental grape, but the rewards are real — translucent ruby with a perfumed lift of red cherry, forest floor, and clove. Silken tannins and bright acid make it the most versatile red on the table; serve cool, around 58°F.

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Fortified red from Portugal's Douro Valley — sweet, warming, and surprisingly versatile. Ruby and LBV are for everyday; Vintage and Tawny are for serious occasions. Pair with blue cheese, walnuts, or just a fire.

Rosé · Light · Off-dry

California's introduction to wine for an entire generation — slightly sweet, lightly fruity, easy to like. Pair with brunch, spice, or nothing at all.