What is Moscato d’Asti wine and how is it made?
Moscato d'Asti is a lightly sparkling, sweet, low-alcohol Italian white wine from Piedmont, made from Moscato Bianco grapes. The fermentation is stopped early by chilling the must, which leaves natural grape sugar and a gentle fizz. It is usually about 5 to 5.5% ABV, much lower than most wine. It is made in one fermentation, not a second fermentation in the bottle.
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What is Moscato d’Asti?
Moscato d’Asti is a DOCG sparkling white wine from the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, made from the Moscato Bianco grape. It is sweet, light and low in alcohol, with a gentle fizz (frizzante) rather than the strong bubbles of Champagne. Typical flavors are peach, apricot, orange blossom and honey. It is mostly produced in the province of Asti, with smaller areas in Alessandria and Cuneo.
How is Moscato d’Asti made?
- Harvest and press: ripe grapes are crushed and pressed gently.
- Chill the must: the juice is kept near freezing, so it does not ferment.
- Start fermentation: when ready, the juice is warmed in a pressurized tank and fermentation begins. The carbon dioxide stays dissolved, producing the light fizz.
- Stop it early: the wine is chilled again before all the sugar is fermented. Yeast stops working and natural grape sugar remains, along with a low alcohol level.
- Filter and bottle: it is filtered, giving a clear golden wine, and bottled. Unlike Champagne, there is no second fermentation in the bottle.
This is sometimes called the Asti method. Details vary by producer, and the process in the tank is simplified here.
How strong is Moscato d’Asti?
Sources give about 5 to 6.5%, with 5.5% often cited as the legal figure. Check the label, since bottlings differ.
Moscato d’Asti vs Asti Spumante
| Moscato d’Asti | Asti (Spumante) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fizz | Light, gentle | Fully sparkling |
| Alcohol | About 5 to 5.5% | Higher, roughly 7 to 9%; check the label |
| Method | Single tank fermentation, stopped early | Tank method with more pressure |
| Grape | Moscato Bianco | Moscato Bianco |
How do you serve Moscato d’Asti?
- Serve well chilled, around fridge temperature.
- Use a white wine or flute glass.
- Pair it with fruit tarts, cheesecake, panettone, fresh fruit or mildly spicy food. It also works as an aperitif or light dessert wine.
How long does it keep?
It is best young and fresh, so drink it within a year or two of the vintage on the label. Store bottles cool and dark. Once opened, reseal with a sparkling-wine stopper and finish within a day or two while the fizz lasts.
Drink responsibly; low alcohol still counts as alcohol.
People also ask
How strong is Moscato d'Asti?
About 5 to 5.5% ABV is typical; some sources give up to 6.5%. Check the label.
Is Moscato d'Asti sparkling?
It is lightly sparkling (frizzante), less fizzy than Champagne or Asti Spumante.
What is the difference between Moscato d'Asti and Asti?
Moscato d'Asti is gently fizzy and lower in alcohol; Asti Spumante is fully sparkling and stronger.
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