Region: Piemonte
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Asti DOCG
Established: Established as DOC in 1967 and elevated to DOCG status in 1993.
Primary Grape Varieties: Moscato Bianco as white wines, sparkling and dessert. Most common is the Asti Spumante and Moscato D'Asti wines
Asti Spumante is are fully sparkling and Moscato D'Asti are lightly frizzy (Frizzante)
Fresh, fruity flavors are the focus. Grape, pear, peach, star anise, sage, citronella
Pairs with: Desserts, Fruit, Fresh Fruit Salad, Meringues, Citrus Flavored Desserts, Cookies
Characteristics: The wines are 100% Moscato
Serve: Highly Chilled
Moscato grapes are a family of black and white grape varieties that may or may not have an actual genetic connection. The grape is known as Muscat in English but has the name of Moscato in Italy. The variety can express itself in a range of color and character and the best known of the Moscato family is Moscato Bianco, the grape used in the production of Asti Spumante and Moscato D'Asti. These frizzante and spumante wines are famous all over the world for their consistency and sweet flavors.
This grape is the same as the Muscat Blanc a Petit Grans that is planted all over the world, especially in the Loire region of France Biotypes are planted all over Italy, especially in Sicily where it is known as Zibibbo (a biotype of Muscat of Alexandria).
Moscato Bianco is late ripening and can be susceptible to spring frost in colder locations. The variety is adaptive to a range of weather and performs well in the the continental climate of Piemonte and the hot climate of Sicily and Puglia. The grape prefers limestone rich soils, mixed with chalk. The soils of Asti are stereotypical of this blend and carry the name of Terre Bianche or "white earth".
The Asti DOCG produces the best known Moscato wines - Moscato D'Asti and Asti Spumante and enjoys a strong following for the traditionally light and sweet, high acid wines made with their unique production technique. The method is referred to as the Asti Method and consists of making a base wine, cooling the wine to stop fermentation and warming it again when the wine is ready for bottling and immediate sale. The process is controlled in a tank to achieve various levels of CO2 and a resulting low level of alcohol (4.5-7%). The wine is kept on pressure and filtered, then bottled for immediate sale. These wines are not intended for aging.
Asti is one of the largest DOCG regions in all of Italy and produces well over 80 million bottles of wine each year. Viewed from a production point of view, Asti is the largest producer of wine in Piemonte. The area is south and southeast of the town of Asti and benefits from the Tanaro river. The DOCG covers an area with over 50 villages, in three provinces. Cuneo and Asti provinces dominate the Moscato plantings and follow local rules of hillside plantings with guyot and VSP training. Some slopes can be very steep with altitudes in ranges of 200-500 meters.
The wines are very aromatic and the most aromatic of the Moscato family. The aromas and flavors are truly unique and include roses, peaches, pineapple, honey, apricot and herbs like sage and thyme. The wine can seem complex but it is intended to be simple, high acid, sweet and slightly sparkling.
Asti Spumante has been a staple in the market for decades and remains a leader in Italian exports. It is inexpensive to produce and buy. Classic Method versions are produced but mostly consumed locally and seldom found in the international market. After 2017, Demi-sec, Secco and Extra-dry versions with higher alcohol were allowed in DOCG regulations to compete with the growing Prosecco market.
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Asti DOCG
Established: Established as DOC in 1967 and elevated to DOCG status in 1993.
Primary Grape Varieties: Moscato Bianco as white wines, sparkling and dessert. Most common is the Asti Spumante and Moscato D'Asti wines
Asti Spumante is are fully sparkling and Moscato D'Asti are lightly frizzy (Frizzante)
Fresh, fruity flavors are the focus. Grape, pear, peach, star anise, sage, citronella
Pairs with: Desserts, Fruit, Fresh Fruit Salad, Meringues, Citrus Flavored Desserts, Cookies
Characteristics: The wines are 100% Moscato
Serve: Highly Chilled
Moscato grapes are a family of black and white grape varieties that may or may not have an actual genetic connection. The grape is known as Muscat in English but has the name of Moscato in Italy. The variety can express itself in a range of color and character and the best known of the Moscato family is Moscato Bianco, the grape used in the production of Asti Spumante and Moscato D'Asti. These frizzante and spumante wines are famous all over the world for their consistency and sweet flavors.
This grape is the same as the Muscat Blanc a Petit Grans that is planted all over the world, especially in the Loire region of France Biotypes are planted all over Italy, especially in Sicily where it is known as Zibibbo (a biotype of Muscat of Alexandria).
Moscato Bianco is late ripening and can be susceptible to spring frost in colder locations. The variety is adaptive to a range of weather and performs well in the the continental climate of Piemonte and the hot climate of Sicily and Puglia. The grape prefers limestone rich soils, mixed with chalk. The soils of Asti are stereotypical of this blend and carry the name of Terre Bianche or "white earth".
The Asti DOCG produces the best known Moscato wines - Moscato D'Asti and Asti Spumante and enjoys a strong following for the traditionally light and sweet, high acid wines made with their unique production technique. The method is referred to as the Asti Method and consists of making a base wine, cooling the wine to stop fermentation and warming it again when the wine is ready for bottling and immediate sale. The process is controlled in a tank to achieve various levels of CO2 and a resulting low level of alcohol (4.5-7%). The wine is kept on pressure and filtered, then bottled for immediate sale. These wines are not intended for aging.
Asti is one of the largest DOCG regions in all of Italy and produces well over 80 million bottles of wine each year. Viewed from a production point of view, Asti is the largest producer of wine in Piemonte. The area is south and southeast of the town of Asti and benefits from the Tanaro river. The DOCG covers an area with over 50 villages, in three provinces. Cuneo and Asti provinces dominate the Moscato plantings and follow local rules of hillside plantings with guyot and VSP training. Some slopes can be very steep with altitudes in ranges of 200-500 meters.
The wines are very aromatic and the most aromatic of the Moscato family. The aromas and flavors are truly unique and include roses, peaches, pineapple, honey, apricot and herbs like sage and thyme. The wine can seem complex but it is intended to be simple, high acid, sweet and slightly sparkling.
Asti Spumante has been a staple in the market for decades and remains a leader in Italian exports. It is inexpensive to produce and buy. Classic Method versions are produced but mostly consumed locally and seldom found in the international market. After 2017, Demi-sec, Secco and Extra-dry versions with higher alcohol were allowed in DOCG regulations to compete with the growing Prosecco market.
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