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For Celebrations and Special Moments, Reach for a Bottle from Asti DOCG
For Celebrations and Special Moments, Reach for a Bottle from Asti DOCG Asti DOCG: A Sparkling Italian Tradition Naturally Sweet, Low ABV, and a Testament to High Quality The Ultimate Celebration Wines (and Equally Perfect Gifts!) [...] Read More... The post For Celebrations and Special Moments, Reach for a Bottle from Asti DOCG appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.
The fresh, delicately sparkling wines of Asti DOCG, Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti, are a testament to the beauty of the under-appreciated Moscato Bianco variety.
For Celebrations and Special Moments, Reach for a Bottle from Asti DOCG
In the springtime, we’re all looking for wines that will bring a little lightness and lift, no matter the occasion. Look to the fizzy, delicately sweet, and naturally lower-alcohol wines of Asti DOCG. The region is home to the very first sparkling wines ever made in Italy. Today Asti Spumante DOCG and Moscato d’Asti DOCG wines are an easy fit on any table that’s piled with spring vegetables, fresh cheeses, and fruit desserts. Whether you’re toasting a special occasion or simply making an everyday moment feel more celebratory, these wines shine—especially on Mother’s Day. The cheerful, fragrant bottles are ideal for Mother’s Day brunches and will easily take you well into evening aperitivo, too.
Asti DOCG: A Sparkling Italian Tradition
Many know the northwestern Piedmont region of Italy for its sought-after red wines, like Barolo and Barbaresco, but since the mid-19th century, it’s also been home to sparkling and frizzante wines made from the aromatic white Moscato Bianco grape. The Asti DOCG spans 51 townships within the provinces of Asti, Alessandria, and Cuneo—part of an extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The sparkling tradition was introduced to the region by Carlo Gancia, who studied winemaking in Champagne and returned home with a plan to use his newfound talents on the Moscato Bianco grape. His inaugural sparkling wine, Asti Spumante, was produced around 1870 in the riverside village of Canelli, using what’s known as “méthode Champenoise,” by which bubbles are created through a second fermentation in the bottle.
About 25 years later, Federico Martinotti developed a much faster way of generating fizz by using pressurized tanks, now called the Charmat method. In addition to saving time, this process also helps to preserve the incredible fragrance and fruitiness in the sparkling and aromatic wines of the denomination. This remains the go-to method for producing Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti today, though some producers continue to work in the Champagne way.
Naturally Sweet, Low ABV, and a Testament to High Quality
The fresh, delicately sparkling wines of the Asti DOCG, designated as Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti, are a testament to the beauty of the under appreciated Moscato Bianco variety. This grape, planted across 10,000 acres here, produces wines that are known for dreamy orange blossom aromas and citrus and orchard fruit flavors, like juicy peaches and fuzzy apricots.
Both Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti are produced from 100% Moscato Bianco, and are vinified using a special technique to achieve the wines’ delicate sweetness and low ABV. Post-harvest, the grapes are gently pressed and fermented in large stainless steel, pressurized tanks. Once the wines reach a certain level of alcohol (6-9% for Asti Spumante and 5-6% for Moscato d’Asti), fermentation is halted, leaving behind a small dose of sugar—and wines that channel a sugar-dusted bowl of fresh fruit.
The best way to know if you’re drinking an Asti DOCG wine? Spin the bottle and read the label. The DOCG designation, which was established in 1993, guarantees that the wines live up to strict yield specifications and taste quality. Nearly a century and a half from their humble beginnings, Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti bottles remain two of the most popular naturally sweet sparkling wines on the market today.
The Ultimate Celebration Wines (and Equally Perfect Gifts!)
The bright acidity, pleasant fizziness, and generous fruitiness of Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti wines make them perfect for pairing with a variety of foods and snacks— from savory, eggy brunch dishes to Italian-inspired aperitivo boards and fruit-based desserts. (A tip: Moscato d’Asti is a sleeper hit with spicy takeout food.)
Beyond the well-known, pleasantly sweet expressions of Moscato, Asti Spumante bottlings also come in Brut, Extra Dry, and Dry versions, meaning that their flavor profile / sweetness spectrum—as well as their food pairing versatility and ability to please a variety of palates—spans the gamut even further. Like Moscato d’Asti wines, these drier expressions of Asti Spumante are equally delightful with brunch favorites and aperitivo boards, though can also be paired with an array of passed appetizers, salads, and savory main courses, from noodles and fried chicken to veggie casseroles, ravioli with cream sauce, and more.
Additionally, these easy-drinking wines bring a little bit of joy to both a laid back evening on the couch and big celebrations with your favorite people, which also make a perfect go-to option for gifting—because no style of wine embodies the art of celebration and appreciation like those that sparkle. Whether as a thoughtful gift or the centerpiece of a beautiful Mother’s Day meal, Asti DOCG wines are a simple way to elevate the occasion.
For further information on wines from Asti DOCG, visit https://www.astidocg.it/en/.
The post For Celebrations and Special Moments, Reach for a Bottle from Asti DOCG appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.
