The Vino Vino Situation presents Moscato d'Asti: sweet, bubbly, and perfect for the holidays

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Today I am going to introduce a typical Italian sweet wine… sparkling! At the end of Langhe hills (famous for Barolo and Barbaresco) close to the small town of Asti, we find an aromatic grape by the name of Moscato.

But pay attention, because you will find two types of wine made with this grape: Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti. Asti Spumante is a Spumante made with a particular method. Moscato d’Asti is still a sparkling wine, but made using lower pressure. So we can say that Moscato d’Asti is less sparkling than Asti Spumante. But not less interesting!

Moscato is a naturally sweet wine. Sugar is not added. Instead, it is obtained directly from the grapes. The wine has a light straw yellow color with soft bubbles. It smells like orange blossom and peach. In fact, the finished product reflects the flavor of this aromatic grape. The taste is sweet but not cloying.

RELATED: Other Sparkling Whites? Check out Spumate Rotari Brut from Trentino

Azienda Agricola Saraco makes an excellent Moscato d’Asti. The company was founded in 1900 and is still managed by the Saracco family. They mostly grow Moscato grapes, but also a little bit of Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Nero.

Moscato d’Asti is perfect with pastries, fresh fruit, or hazelnut cake. I think that the best pairing is with panettone. In fact, panettone with Moscato is a Christmas tradition in Italy. You can try to cook panettone by yourself, but it is really difficult because it requires hours and hours of leavening. But its soft texture makes it a perfect match for a glass of Moscato. Something to keep mind for next Christmas.

Enjoy your wine!

Producer: Azienda Agricola Saracco
Name: Moscato d’Asti
Region: Piemonte
Type: Sparkling white sweet wine
Price: About $13
Grapes: Moscato Bianco Canelli 100%

Working in wineries across Italy, I get to see how much passion goes into each bottle. With the Vino Vino Situation, every week I present a great Italian wine that won’t break your budget. My reviews are unsponsored and unsolicited. Salute!