The Piedmont Series - Fizzy and Sweet
Written By: Dylan York on Fri, Jun 13th 2008
For the first installment into the wines of Piedmont I wanted to start with a dessert-before-dinner approach and save the serious wines for later. For those of you who are entering the summer season this will allow you to get a head start on transitioning your palate from rich and hearty wines into the more refreshing flavors that you crave when the weather turns warmer. I selected a group of wines from Piedmont that are perfect for all occasions and fall into the categories of fizzy and sweet. The wines that I am referring to are Brachetto d'Aqui, Moscato d'Asti, and Asti.
Brachetto d'Aqui is an aromatic, light and fizzy red wine that has flavors of wild strawberries, raspberries, and red cherries. Produced by the Brachetto grape variety, this wine comes from the areas of Asti, Roero and Allessandria where it is produced in limited quantities. It was originally given DOC status in 1969 and elevated to DOCG in 1996. Brachetto, up until recently, was not very well known in the United States until Banfi released its commercial version, Rosso Regale, which retails for around $20 USD. If you are a purist and want to taste the non-commercial side of Brachetto then look for producers such as Coppa and Icardi. Both these wines will range anywhere from $25 to $35 USD. Brachetto is best when served with fresh fruit, sweet confections, and even dry cheeses.
Asti is a sweet sparkling wine that is made from the Moscato Bianco grape variety, which is the fourth most planted grape in Italy. The wine was once produced the same way as Champagne, but today the Charmat Method (large pressurized tanks) is used. The Charmat Method allows producers to better control the fermentation thus allowing more sugar to remain present in the wine. Some of you may remember this wine as Asti Spumante and you are correct. Up until 1993 when it was elevated to DOCG status, the wine was referred to as Asti Spumante. The name was changed because Asti Spumante received a bad reputation from the flooding of low quality wines into the market in the 1980s. Producers wanted a fresh start so the name was shortened to Asti. Perhaps one of the most popular producers is Mondoro. This bottle can be spotted quite easily as it is packaged in a lavish green bottle with swirly grooves. Mondoro Asti is refreshing, sweet, and also very inexpensive ($12 USD). Use this wine to make sweet champagne cocktails and serve at the end of the meal.
Moscato d'Asti is made from the Moscato Bianco grape variety as well. This wine is no secret to the global market and has long been one of the most popular Italian wines. The best part about this wine is that it is frizzante -- slightly fizzy, whereas the Asti is fully sparkling. Most are typically low in alcohol and can be served with a wide array of foods. The flavor profile is light and crisp with fruity notes of citrus and stone fruits. The wine is produced in several zones in Piedmont where growers use only the ripest and finest grapes. Some of my favorite wines are Michele Chiarlo "Nivole," La Spinetta, and Cerretto "Santa Stefano". These wines will retail from $17 to $30 USD depending on the size of the bottle (750ml to 375ml). Moscato d'Asti is excellent by itself and pairs great with light pastries and cakes.
In the next installment of the Piedmont Series we dive into one of Italy's best quaffing wines, Dolcetto.
