Moscato d’Asti is a fragrant and slightly fizzy DOCG dessert wine produced in the Northern Italian region of Piedmont.
You’ll find my most recent Moscato d’Asti reviews and ratings here.
Surprising Facts about Moscato d’Asti:
Moscato d’Asti is produced from the Moscato Bianco (white Muscat) grape in and around the town of Asti. The hub of Asti production being the tiny village of Canelli.
Moscato Bianco is the fourth most planted grape in Italy and perhaps the first cultivated vine in Piedmont.
Moscato d’Asti is often mentioned in the company of its relative wine Asti. The two have many differences. Moscato d’Asti is lower in alcohol: 5.5% by law.
Moscasto d’Asti is not spumante (sparkling), rather it’s classified as frizzante (fizzy).
Moscato d’Asti is stoppered with a regular cork, not a champagne cork.
Moscato d’Asti is served in a regular wine glass, not a flute. Moscato d’Asti is meant to be enjoyed soon after it is released.
Moscato d’Asti is produced in limited batches by small Piedmontese producers using carefully selected grapes. Only the ripest and best grapes are chosen.
Moscato d’Asti enjoyed an increase in popularity in the twentieth century. Up until the nineteenth century, just 15,000 tonnes of Moscato Bianco were harvested.
Once the sparkling wine hub of Canelli became established in the late nineteenth century, Asti production went up. About 80% of Moscato Bianco is grown in Canelli.
By the 1970s and 1980s, small producers were bottling and labeling Moscato d’Asti under their own names, creating a niche market for refreshing mousse wines.
Moscato d’Asti is produced on a partially fermented grape must. The grape juice is chilled and filtered immediately after it’s pressed. Fermentation is on an “as needed” basis.
This ensures that the distinct muskiness of the Moscato grape is not lost in the wine. Fermentation stops at 5.5% alcohol and unfermented fruit gives the grapey and perfume characteristics to Moscato d’Asti.
Moscato d’Asti is a perfect lunch wine with its low alcohol. The sweet, fruitiness also pairs well with fruit platters and desserts. It is tradition in Piedmont to drink a glass of Moscato d’Asti at Christmas.
When you join our wine community as a Paid Member, you’ll get access to all of my Moscato d’Asti wine reviews, which are updated weekly.
