What is the history and origin of Moscato d’Asti wine?
Moscato d'Asti is a Moscato-based sparkling wine from the Asti area of Piedmont, Italy. The first Italian spumante from Moscato bianco was made in Canelli in 1865, a faster tank method came in 1898, and Asti wine received DOC status in 1967 and DOCG in 1993.
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Where does Moscato d’Asti come from?
Moscato d’Asti comes from the Asti area of Piedmont in northwest Italy. The consortium history names Moscato bianco as the grape behind the area’s sparkling wines, and Moscato d’Asti developed from the tank method below.
Key dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1865 | Carlo Gancia applies the classic bottle method to Moscato bianco in Canelli, making what the Asti consortium calls the first Italian spumante. |
| 1898 | Federico Martinotti of the Asti Experimental Institute of Oenology develops a faster fermentation in large pressurized tanks. The consortium says this process allowed the development of Moscato d’Asti. |
| 1932 | The Asti consortium is founded on 17 December. |
| 1967 | Asti wine receives DOC status. |
| 1993 | Asti wine receives DOCG status. |
| 2014 | UNESCO recognizes the wider Langhe, Roero and Monferrato vineyard landscape. |
The production area
The consortium’s 1932 history names the zone as Canelli, Mango, Trezzo Tinella and Santo Stefano Belbo; Asti is where the founding meeting took place. Boundaries have changed over the years, so check the current rules.
What about older history?
You will find claims online that the vines came from ancient Greece or that the Romans knew the wine. I could not confirm these on a primary page, so they are not stated here as fact.
What about taste and strength?
The consortium history page does not describe taste, sweetness or alcohol level, so check the label for those.
Common mistake
Confusing Moscato d’Asti with Asti Spumante. Asti Spumante is a separate wine from the same area. Check the label.
People also ask
What grape is Moscato d'Asti made from?
The consortium's history names Moscato bianco as the grape behind the area's sparkling wines.
When did Asti become DOCG?
1993, according to the Asti consortium; Asti wine received DOC status in 1967.
Who invented the tank method for Moscato?
Federico Martinotti introduced a faster fermentation in pressurized tanks in 1898.
Sources
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