Moscato for the holidays

During the holiday season, you know, the consumption of sweets soars, and so we sweep away any doubts about what to drink: Moscato without qualms, in its bubbly versions: Asti and Moscato d'Asti.

We are close to the festive season of a difficult year: wars, galloping inflation, a still creeping pandemic, a government crisis resulting in a new government grappling with major difficulties, and even the non-participation in the World Cup, in order of importance. All that remains for us wine lovers is to drink up to spend this end of the year peacefully and happily. What wine is more cheerful than those with bubbles? Probably none, and in Italy we produce some excellent ones both white and red (besides the fashionable rosés), both dry and sweet. With a careful eye on the purse, we propose some wines of this type - Asti and Moscato d'Asti, for instance - to accompany traditional Christmas desserts. 

Sparkling wine was brought to the Asti area by Carlo Gancia in 1850 after a trip to France, but Moscato d'Asti is an ingenious Italian brainchild who found a way to stop fermentation at will through continuous filtrations with jute sacks and the like, thus leaving the sweet taste. Now the technique created by Martinotti and cold technology makes it easier and the products better, but the idea of having a sparkling, slightly sweet wine with very little alcohol is fantastic. Then throw in the explosion of scents of Moscato and the game becomes perfect for all Christmas desserts. 

We went to the Asti Consortium these days to taste the wines, which for most Moscato means the newly released 2022 vintage. Many confirmations and a few new ones. It is also worth mentioning the extraordinary performance of Matteo Soria, who in addition to offering both Asti and Moscato d'Asti of excellent level, releases an old vintage (the 2013) of Moscato to leave you speechless. 

These are our top 10 tastings, divided between the two types. The lion's share, needless to say, goes to Moscato d'Asti. For wine descriptions just click on the name.

Moscato d’Asti

1. Matteo Soria Moscato d'Asti Cascinetta 2013 – 95/100
2. Matteo Soria Moscato d'Asti Cascinetta 2022 – 94/100 
3. Caudrina Moscato d'Asti La Galeisa 2021 – 93/100
4. Ferrero di Fabrizio Ferrero Moscato d'Asti Teresina 2022 – 93/100
5. Caudrina Moscato d'Asti 2022 – 92/100
6. Braida di Giacomo Bologna Moscato d'Asti Vigna senza nome 2022 – 91/100
7. Olim Bauda Moscato d'Asti Centive 2022 – 90/100

Asti

1. Gancia Asti Cuvée 24 mesi Metodo Classico – 93/100
2. Matteo Soria Asti – 91/100
3. Caudrina Asti La Selvatica - 91/100

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