Sutter Home Red Moscato

Sutter Home Red Moscato is a sweet, fruit-forward California wine blending Moscato with Syrah, bottled at 11.8% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This crowd-pleasing expression earned 91 points and a Gold medal at the 2021 Monterey International Wine Competition, along with Gold at the 2021 San Diego International Wine Competition and Class Champion honors at the 2019 Houston Livestock & Rodeo.

Quick Facts: ABV: 11.8%  |  Origin: California, USA  |  Style: Sweet Red Blend (Moscato & Syrah)  |  Winery: Sutter Home Winery, St. Helena

Production & Heritage

Sutter Home Winery, based in St. Helena in the heart of Napa Valley, is widely credited with popularizing White Zinfandel in the 1970s and has remained one of America's most recognized wine brands. For this Red Moscato, winemakers blend aromatic Moscato with Syrah, allowing the grape skins and juice to mingle for 24 hours to develop its distinctive dark pink hue. The wine is then cold-fermented at 55°F and aged entirely in refrigerated stainless steel tanks, a process designed to lock in fresh, fragrant aromas and bright fruit character rather than introduce any oak influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The wine opens with a perfumed burst of fresh strawberry and ripe cherry. Underneath, delicate floral notes of rose petal add an aromatic lift that draws you in before the first sip.

Taste: Sweet berry fruit — predominantly strawberry and cherry — enters the palate immediately, complemented by subtle rose petal accents at the mid-palate. A creamy, almost luxurious mouthfeel develops, balanced by crisp acidity that keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying. The interplay between rich fruit and bright acid gives the wine a sense of structure uncommon in this price tier.

Finish: The finish is vibrant and refreshing, with lingering berry sweetness that fades gradually. Rose petal and a clean, fruity echo remain, inviting the next sip without heaviness.

How to Drink Red Moscato

Serve well chilled, ideally between 40–45°F, to maximize its refreshing acidity and aromatic intensity. This wine shines on its own as a casual sipper but also works in simple wine-based drinks. A Red Moscato Sangria benefits from its inherent berry sweetness and floral perfume, needing only sliced stone fruit and a splash of sparkling water. A Wine Spritzer made with club soda stretches the fruit character into a lighter warm-weather drink. For brunch, try it in a Berry Bellini variation — its natural strawberry-cherry profile pairs effortlessly with a touch of sparkling wine or Prosecco.

Best For

• Introducing wine newcomers to reds through an approachable sweet style
• Casual summer gatherings, patio entertaining, and poolside sipping
• Pairing with spicy takeout when a dry red feels too tannic
• Bringing a crowd-pleasing bottle to a potluck or dinner party

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sutter Home Red Moscato taste like? It delivers sweet strawberry and cherry flavors layered with rose petal notes, carried by a creamy mouthfeel and balanced by crisp acidity that keeps the finish refreshing rather than heavy.

How does Sutter Home Red Moscato compare to Barefoot Red Moscato? Both are sweet, fruit-driven red Moscato blends positioned at similar value price points, but Sutter Home's 24-hour skin contact and cold fermentation at 55°F tend to produce a slightly richer mouthfeel and more pronounced floral aromatics. Sutter Home also carries multiple Gold medals from international competitions, including 91 points from the 2021 Monterey International Wine Competition.

Is Red Moscato good for beginners? Absolutely — its approachable sweetness, lower tannin structure, and familiar berry fruit flavors make it one of the most accessible red wines available, particularly for drinkers who typically prefer white or rosé styles.

Where is Sutter Home Red Moscato made? It is produced by Sutter Home Winery, headquartered in St. Helena, California, using grapes sourced from California vineyards. The wine is fermented and aged in refrigerated stainless steel tanks at the winery's facility.

What foods pair well with Red Moscato? Spicy Thai or Szechuan dishes work well because the wine's residual sweetness tempers heat. Fresh strawberry shortcake or berry tarts echo the wine's fruit profile. Mild soft cheeses like Brie or mascarpone complement its creamy texture. Grilled chicken with a sweet chili glaze bridges the gap between savory and sweet. Dark chocolate–covered strawberries make an indulgent dessert pairing.

What sizes does Sutter Home Red Moscato come in? It is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle, as well as 187ml single-serve bottles and 1.5L magnum formats, making it flexible for individual servings or larger gatherings.

Is Sutter Home Red Moscato worth the price? Positioned as an everyday value wine, it delivers a level of aromatic complexity and competition-winning quality — including multiple Gold medals — that punches well above its entry-level price tier.

Why Red Moscato?

Sutter Home's Red Moscato distinguishes itself through a deliberate production process: 24-hour skin contact with Syrah for color and body, followed by cold fermentation and stainless steel aging to preserve aromatics that oak would obscure. The result earned 91 points and Gold at the 2021 Monterey International Wine Competition, plus Gold at San Diego and Class Champion at the 2019 Houston Livestock & Rodeo — a competition pedigree unusual for wines at this price point. Among sweet red blends, it strikes a balance between genuine flavor intensity and drinkable freshness that keeps it relevant year after year. For anyone seeking a reliably sweet, fruit-forward red with actual credentials behind the label, this remains one of the strongest options in its category.