Both wines are subject to the same controls and DOCG status, which increases the quality and protects the product – so do try out both for your next Sunday lunch! The best Moscato d’Asti wines The aromatic Riesling wine has a delightful aroma of orchard fruits such as pears and apricots, golden colour apples and nectarines, with a hint of jasmine. It is high in acidity, and the only wine in this list without the sparkling character. If you enjoy Moscato d’Asti but are looking a wine that isn’t sparkling, this is the wine for the occasion. Just like Moscato d’Asti, it suits equally well as an accompaniment to spicy dishes.

The Moscato d’Asti wine-making zone is located in a hilly area south of Asti town, in Piedmont, northwestern Italy. It covers about 50 communes of the Alessandria, Asti, and Cuneo provinces. The zone’s eastern edge sees the Bormida River, which flows past Acqui Terme. There, Moscato vines grow next to Dolcetto and Brachetto vines used to produce Dolcetto d’Acqui and Brachetto d’Acqui respectively. Its eastern side is marked by Serralunga d’Alba village, where there are plenty of Nebbiolo vineyards.Moscato d’Asti Vendemmia Tardiva: A rare late-harvest style of Moscato d’Asti with higher alcohol and sugar content (a minimum of 11% ABV). For the most part, Moscato d’Asti is semi-sweet and prized for its lightness and freshness. That means that it can be enjoyed at mealtime or even complement a dinner. According to tradition, Moscato d’Asti is drunk just before dessert as a palate cleanser. Due to its affordability, this wine is the choice of younger drinkers, although it is the preferred sparkler of celebrities and famous people, as well. What Does Moscato d’Asti Taste Like?

In Piedmont, where Moscato d’Asti comes from, the locals drink red wine almost exclusively while eating. In fact, the thought of serving Moscato d’Asti with savory foods seems outrageous to them. However, across the world, we see Moscato d’Asti combined with international cuisines and a variety of different dishes, from seafood to poultry-based courses. The traditional pairing of the light, sweet and semi-sparkling Moscato d’Asti is appetizers such as cured meat and prosciutto or desserts and fruits. You’re best off with light and fruity desserts, such as cheesecake, pannacotta or citrus tarts. You can also make a fine Moscato cheese pairing, such as with Gorgonzola. Cultivated for hundreds of years in the Piedmont DOCG in Italy, Moscato bianco is considered one of the oldest grapes grown in that area. Although Moscato has been cultivated and made in the area, modern production of Moscato d’Asti as it is known now began in the 1870s. Made in the frizzante style, Moscato d'Asti was the wine that winemakers made for themselves. This low-alcohol wine could be drunk at noontime meals and would not slow down the winemaker or his workers. After the workday was done, the Piemontese tradition of long, multicourse evening meals gave Moscato d'Asti the purpose of a digestif that cleansed the palate and stimulated the palate for dessert. [2] Winemaking [ edit ] A pink Moscato d'Asti made in the rosé style.An interesting note about this wine is that it is almost exclusively produced in small wineries and comes in a limited number of batches. The variety is characterized by small grains that ripen early and need continuous care, which only adds to the exclusivity of Moscato d’Asti. The same grape is used for the production of various other wine styles: dry and light, sweet and sparking, or rich dessert wines with honey flavors. The Elvio Tintero winery produces this fruity delicacy, which immediately gives off an aroma of ripe apricot and peach. The fruitiest ones of our examples, Sori Gramella is a great accompaniment to cheeses, fruits and tarts, giving a pleasant and cheerful atmosphere to the end of the evening or picnic by the lakes. Moscato d’Asti Pairings Despite the prevalence of Moscato in Piedmont, it doesn’t get as much attention as the dry red wines of the region. More fanfare goes to the wines of Barolo – high-tannin reds made with Nebbiolo grapes. Still, it’s nice to know that many of the top Barolo producers also make great Moscato. So, even if Moscato doesn’t get talked about by most pros, it’s actually taken quite seriously by Northern Italy’s top producers. The more you know! Lambrusco is a delicate Italian white wine with a gentle fizz and fruity taste, featuring hints of lemon and apple. It has a low alcohol level, similar to Moscato d’Asti, but is less sparkling and higher in acidity. Lambrusco pairs best with seafood, pasta and various desserts, so if you’re looking for something for your main Italian course, go for Lambrusco. Prosecco Moscato d’Asti is a sweet sparkling wine with low alcohol levels from Piedmont (Piemonte) in northwestern Italy. The wine, as implied by its name, is made from Muscat grapes cultivated in Asti. Moscato d’Asti is one of the most famous wines of Italy.