Ever since I was pleasantly surprised by Yellow Tail's latest wine, a well-priced Australian Moscato, the muscat grape has assumed the role of flavor of the month. Call it coincidence, but a few days later, I sampled Presto Moscato Dolce and fell hard for its flavor profile. This Italian bottling isn't nearly as sweet (nor has the same intensity) as its Yellow Tail counterpart. Rather, it greets Read more

What would you say is the fastest-growing grape in the country? If you guessed Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, or any of the other usual suspects, you're wrong. The answer's muscat, the sweetly fragranced grape that's often the bane of any drinker who's sworn off sweet wines. That's right: according to AC Nielsen, muscat is the fastest-growing grape variety in the United States, and even global Read more

One bottle that stood out amongst the rest at the New York Wine and Food Festival was the 2009 Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz. It was unlike anything else I've sipped before. It's a sweet red wine that's very different from a Port. It's not syrupy or thick, but smooth, full-bodied, and very fruity. The knowledgeable gentleman at the Drink South African table (the grapes are grown in South Africa's Paarl Read more

Despite the fact that many guests in Aspen had a chance to hit up the tasting tent five times, the last 30 minutes of the last Grand Tasting on Sunday rapidly deteriorated into a crowded, debaucherous food and wine free-for-all. In the midst of it all, we stumbled upon an Australian wine table that had been completely abandoned: there the whites and rosés sat, on ice, ready to be enjoyed, but Read more

If you're looking to expand your wine horizons, you might want to consider a light dessert wine called Muscat. A white grape varietal that's grown all over the world in wine-making regions from South Africa to Serbia, the Muscat grape is known for its highly perfumed floral aroma. Typically speaking, Muscats are fortified wines with moderate sweetness and a slight effervescence. One Muscat I Read more

Everyone has different holiday traditions. One of mine, apparently, is becoming obsessed with a festive and seasonal cocktail recipe. Last year I was all about sparkling Shiraz punch. The December before I went gaga for a cranberry-amaretto kiss. 2009's beverage of choice? This sparkling pomegranate punch! It has all the necessary elements of a fabulous holiday drink. It's vibrantly colored, Read more

While hosting a spur-of-the-moment dinner two nights ago, I wanted something sweet to end our meal, so I invited my guests to enjoy a glass of liquid dessert: Quady Elysium ($15.99), made with black muscat grapes. The concentrated, blackberry-hued wine is rich with both floral and fruity flavors, so I enjoyed it in little sips. Because it's so intensely sweet and full-bodied, it's easy to Read more