Elo Moscato

Moscatos seem to come from everywhere, and one of the best I've sampled in many a moon emanates from South Africa. The Elo Moscato is a crowd-pleasing white, and it would take a crowd to consume this 3-liter boxed wine ($20, the equivalent of $5 per bottle) in one sitting. Good thing the package keeps it fresh for a month or so in the fridge. This white has more vim and verve than most moscatos, making it a nice option for non-moscato-lovers, plus a veritable fruit cocktail of flavors. It goes down almost too easy, with a mouthwatering finish. This is a patio, picnic or party wine, but it should pair beautifully with Thai or Indian dishes in particular.

Available at Cotroneo's, Hy-Vee, Shorewood, Summit, Wine Republic, Liquor Works, Apollo (Rochester) and others.

BILL WARD