Moscato d'Asti

There are two sparkling wines made purely from the Moscato Bianco grape: the fully sparkling Asti DOCG (pressure 5-6 atm), and the lightly fizzy Moscato d’Asti DOCG (2.5 atm). Asti DOCG is wine for easy drinking, made by large cooperatives, while Moscato d’Asti is only produced from the best and ripest grapes. It’s an artisan wine made by boutique wineries. It is the more delicate of the two, with nuanced fragrances and less sparkle.

The denomination includes 51 comunes on the right bank of the Tanaro river, between Asti, Alessandria and Acqui Terme. Interestingly, it overlaps with most of Barbaresco, and the Serralunga sub-zone of Barolo. So you may find Barolo and Barbaresco wineries producing Moscato d’Asti wine as well.

The Asti wine laws demand that vines are planted on hillsides. Typically, vineyards are found at altitudes of 200-500 meters on steep slopes, so it’s only possible to pick grapes by hand.

What does Moscato d’Asti wine taste like?

This wine has an aromatic complexity that balances its sweetness. Expect flavours of jasmine, guava, pear drop candy and orange blossom.