Founded in Milawa, Victoria, Australia, 1885, Brown Brothers, is today one of Australia’s largest family-owned wineries, having spent 137 years pushing boundaries and championing new wine styles.

Brown Brothers has now arrived in the UK, launching exclusively in Tesco with two lower-alcohol wines: Brown Brothers Moscato and Brown Brothers Moscato Rosé.

A brief bit of grape-history: the Moscato grape (part of the ancient Muscat family) is one of the oldest cultivated wine grapes in the world, with a history spanning thousands of years across the Mediterranean and Italy. 

It first arrived in Australia in 1832 and for much of Australian wine history, Muscat varieties were championed in the Rutherglen region of Victoria to craft rich, world-renowned liqueur Muscats. Sweet, fortified dessert wines which are a world away from the lighter, fresher style of Moscato we know today.

Brown Brothers helped establish Moscato as one of Australia’s most-loved wine styles. Although, I would say these two wines are definitely on the sweet end of the spectrum.

The Brown Brothers Moscato (5% ABV, RRP £8) is made from Muscat of Alexandria. It delivers vibrant aromas of musk, citrus and freshly crushed grapes, leading into juicy sherbet-like flavours and a light sparkle on the tongue.

The Brown Brothers Moscato Rosé (6% ABV, RRP £8), is pretty and pink. It is a wine that combines Muscat of Alexandria with a touch of Cienna, and offers aromas of rose petal and red berries, followed by fresh grape flavours and again that subtle fizz. 

What I love about these wines is their low alcohol content. Sometimes, you fancy a glass of something delicious without it packing a big ABV punch. They’re perfect for sunny afternoon sipping. 

There’s something about these wines that reminds me of the French trend when, in around 2012, French winemakers officially launched a “wine-revolution”. Embracing the flavoured wine category, they specifically launch a grapefruit rosé (rosé au pamplemousse) and raspberry rosé (rosé à la framboise). These fruit-forward styles acted as an approachable entry point for new consumers, successfully demystifying the traditionally strict old world of French wine by creating a fresh, sweet, and lower-alcohol alternative.

These two wines from Brown Brothers remind me of this, offering a lower-alcohol, sweeter entry point into what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming category. As they say, because sometimes you want wine that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

I found the Brown Brothers Moscato refreshing when mixed with soda water and garnished with slices of lemon and pear. It makes for a longer drink than a standard glass of wine, bringing a little taste of summer to the glass — and evoking those sunny days I’m not quite willing to let go of yet.

For a more winter wonderland pairing, you can lean into warming spices such as winter fruits like pomegranate, cranberry, or citrus. Think Pink Pomegranate Bellini with the rosé, or a Winter Spritz, marrying the white variety with elderflower, soda water and rosemary. 

Brown Brothers Moscato and Brown Brothers Moscato Rosé are available exclusively in Tesco stores nationwide for £8. www.brownbrothers.com.au