It’s no secret that I am really, really interested in encouraging all our readers to buy Israeli wines as much as possible, this year more than ever. One thing I’d also like to do is show our readers that Bartenura Moscato—while certainly delicious to many who are loyal to it—is Italian and is not the only moscato wine in the world. Asti, a province in northwest Italy where Bartenura’s Moscato D’Asti is made, is just one type of moscato wine, made from muscat à petits grains, better known as the moscato bianco grape. There are many other delicious and sweet moscatos made all over the world, and there are even many made in Israel, so you can both enjoy the wines you love while also supporting Israel! It’s a win-win!

Moscato wines in Israel tend to be made from the muscat canelli grape or muscat of Alexandria, which may grow more successfully in warmer climates. Both are very similar in aroma to moscato bianco and are just as often made into slightly bubbly low-alcohol wines with aromas of peach or nectarine. Moscato wines are ideally served cold, but as it warms in your glass, look for more distinct or complex scents to make themselves known; you will likely find notes of citrus, tropical fruit, apple or pear.

(Other sweet white wines made in Israel which do not include the moscato grape are emerald riesling and semisweet gewürztraminer, and in a few cases, semisweet chenin blanc. Look for late harvest wines as well, which will always be sweet.)

Here are my top six Israeli moscatos. All are sweet and all are great options for Yom Tov:

Teperberg White Moscato 2023: This wine is refreshingly bubbly, with an aromatic tropical nose, like mango, peach and pineapple. It has a cool patterned bottle too. It is made from muscat of Alexandria grapes grown in the Shfelat Yehuda vineyard in the Judean Hills. The cost is $13.99 and contains 5.3% alcohol.

Yarden Hermon Moscato 2023: This wine was produced from muscat canelli grapes grown entirely in the cool climate, rocky volcanic soil and high altitude of the Golan Heights. Stopping the fermentation of the juice quite early results in a wine that is lightly sparkling, aromatic and sweet, with notes of peach and other stone fruits. The wine is 6% alcohol and $14.99.

Dalton Canaan Moscato 2023: Dalton’s winery and vineyards are located in the Upper Galil, approximately five kilometers from the Lebanese border. It has faced constant rocket fire over the last year and needs our support. Dalton’s moscato is a sweet, refreshing and aromatic wine with a mild effervescence on the palate, showing hints of peach, melon and nectarine. The winemaker seeks a perfect balance between aromatic sweetness and fresh acidity. The wine is mevushal, 5% alcohol and $18.99.

Carmel Selected Moscato 2023: This slightly bubbly wine has perfumed floral aromas and hints of peach, apricot and lime. It is made from grapes grown in the Lower Galil. It is 6% alcohol and is $13.49. I should also note that Carmel makes a Carmel ‘Buzz Moscato’ series that is additionally flavored with natural fruit essences, with five options of pomegranate, watermelon/melon, pineapple, peach and mango. This series sells very well, particularly to Barnetura fans and is $11.99.

Tabor Moscato 2023: One of my favorite wineries in Israel is Tabor, because they have embraced an ecological model that allows wildlife to live in the vineyard as part of the grape’s annual life cycle, which is why its mascot is the barn owl, an animal at the top of the vineyard food chain and a natural predator for rodents and other pests. The Mount Tabor Moscato is made from muscat canelli grapes grown in the Lower Galil. This refreshing wine has natural effervescence and lovely floral aromas, and hints of tropical fruit flavors, including lychee, lemon and green melon. The wine is 5.5% alcohol and is $16.99.

Zion Moscato 2023: Zion uses muscat of Alexandria grapes grown in the Judean Hills to create a pleasant Moscato wine, combining aromas of tropical fruit, apple and pineapple. The wine is slightly effervescent with a sweet and crisp taste. The wine is 5.5% alcohol and $14.99.

Best wishes to all our readers for a K’tiva V’chatima Tova!