Posted By Joel on December 16, 2009

Holiday Tool Kit, include:

People you care about
Good food
Moscato d’Asti

Lightly fizzy with gentle bubbles, delicate aromas, and ever so slightly sweet, Moscato d’Asti is a wonderful addition to the goings on around holiday table or tree!

From the Piedmont region of Italy, around the town of Asti, Moscato d’Asti is a wine made from the varietal known as Moscato Bianco. Its low alcohol - usually around 6% - makes it a great candidate for anytime drinking.

Good artisanal Moscato d’Asti is straw yellow in color and will have fresh, nicely delineated aromas and flavors that - depending on producer - may include peaches, melons, mandarin oranges, apricots, roses, musk, cream, bread crust and honey riding on top of crisp acidity.

Moscato d’Asti is fermented and then rapidly chilled down to stop fermentation when the right balance of alcohol / sugar / acidity is reached.

Freshness is an important component of Moscato d’Asti, so do drink the current vintage or youngest vintage that you can find. Should you stumble upon signs announcing “bargains” for vintages older than 2 years please recall the following instructions: keep money in pocket and continue walking.

You can serve Moscato d’Asti chilled and in regular wine glasses, certainly, but if you have fluted glasses you’ll have better fun with the bubble.

Moscato d’Asti is delicious on its own to be sure, but pairs so very well with light cakes such as panettone and is a perfect foil for dry biscotti, puddings, and meringues. Elegantly minimalist with fresh fruit, Moscato d’Asti also works nicely with typical brunch components such as Belgian waffles, omelets, butter, lox, crab, cheese, etc.

Recommended Producers Include: Braida, Icardi, Saracco

Categories: $ (Under $25), Piedmont, Wine
Tags: Moscato