Delicious, lightly fizzy Moscato with aromas of white flowers, guava, pear and candy

As featured in Decanter: “92 points. This is absolutely delicious and hard to put down!” –  James Button, Decanter, 19 March 2021.

Francone “Antici Poderi dei Gallina” Moscato d’Asti wine scored 92 points at Decanter’s September 2021 tasting, dedicated to Moscato d’Asti wines – the highest score in the UK.

Ideal as an aperitif – and irresistible on summer afternoons – this beautiful and light Italian sparkling wine offers distinct aromas of guava and pear. The name of the wine translates as “old farms of Gallina”, as it comes from the Gallina hill – one of the prized cru areas in the Neive area.

The white Moscato grapes are planted on the cooler north side of the hill, while the south side is dedicated to Nebbiolo for Francone’s multi-award-winning Barbaresco Gallina red wine.

Winemaking:

The white Moscato grapes are harvested by hand in the middle of September, then de-stemmed and softly pressed at the winery. The juice then undergoes a low-temperature fermentation at 13-15 °C in stainless steel tanks. This is interrupted when the alcohol reaches just 5%. Because fermentation stops before all the sugar has converted into alcohol, the resulting wine is bright, highly aromatic and enhanced by the natural sweetness of the grapes. The fizziness is all natural, too.

Tasting notes:

Pale lemon colour. Expressive and pronounced aromas of guava, pear, candy, and white flower blossom. The wine has the typical sweetness of Moscato d’Asti, with medium acidity, fine mousse and low alcohol. Pleasant and pronounced flavours on the palate, with a long lingering finish.

Awards:

Decanter Tasting 2021 by James Button – 92 points (2020 vintage) | I Vini Di Veronelli 2021 – 2 stars (2019 vintage)