🍷 Asti

Asti is a sweet Italian sparkling wine made from white Muscat in Piedmont. It usually has 7–9.5% alcohol, so it is lighter than most wines. The aroma is bright: grape, peach, flowers.

The grape is Muscat Blanc, called Moscato Bianco in Piedmontese. It grows on the hills around the towns of Asti and Alessandria. The production method is special: fermentation takes place in a closed tank under pressure and is stopped by cooling while plenty of sugar remains. This is called the Asti or Charmat method. That is why sweetness and a little alcohol stay in the wine.

Asti belongs to quality aromatic sparkling wines and to spumante. Next to it stands Moscato d'Asti, which is lighter still and slightly fizzy. There is also Brachetto d'Acqui, a pink aromatic sparkling wine. Asti is drunk chilled, with desserts, fruit and sweet pastries, and at celebrations. It is one of the best-known Italian sparkling wines.