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Asti is made from a special grape variety – white Muscat, which is grown exclusively in Italy, the Piedmont region. The variety is one of the oldest in the region, it is characterized by high sugar levels and sufficient acidity.
Despite the prestigious Italian DOCG classification, Asti’s sweet wines are not prized among wine lovers.
There is also a risk of buying low-quality products under the guise of Asti.
History of sparkling Asti
The White Muscat grape variety is quite ancient, originating from the eastern Mediterranean and was probably brought to Piedmont in the sixteenth century.
In 1865, Carlo Gancha applied the French technology of making champagne to his company’s wines in the city of Canelli. First, red drinks “leaked” through the experiment, then it came to white nutmeg. At that time, the resulting product was called “Muscat Champagne” (Moscato Champagne).
After the Asti production technology spread throughout the Piedmont, other companies began to make their favorite wine. Among the first was the famous distillery Martini and Rossi (Martini & Rossi) in Montechiaro d’Asti (Montechiaro d’Asti).
In the XX century, Federico Martinotti (Federico Martinotti) improved and patented a method for producing sparkling wines. Then Alfredo Marone improved the pressure filtration system. Thus, the ideal technology for the production of Asti champagne was born. Large volumes of the drink were exported under the name Asti Spumante.
In 1993, Asti Spumante was awarded the DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Status of Origin) wine label, so its production must follow strict rules. For example, the vineyards must be located only in hilly areas, the sparkling must mainly be produced in single-tank fermentation, and the sweet taste must be guaranteed through a special filtration technique.
Asti production process
Champagne Asti is born from the White Muscat grape variety. The features of the vine are enhanced depending on climatic factors and soil properties. The production area is located mainly in the province of Asti and partly in Cuneo and Alessandria.
The density of vineyards must be at least 4000 vines/ha, the yield of grapes must be more than 10 t/ha.
Valuable aromatics accumulate in the last weeks before harvest and reach their maximum level in the first days of September. During this period, grapes begin to be harvested.
All operations are carried out manually to preserve the integrity of the berries and transfer their flavor to the drink intact.
After harvesting, the grapes are immediately sent to the pressing plant, where they are turned into must in large tanks.
Raw materials after filtering from unnecessary impurities are pressed by a soft method called “soffice”. The must obtained in this way is cooled to low temperatures (just above freezing) to avoid the start of unwanted fermentation.
The cooled wort is brought to a temperature of about 20 degrees and yeast is added. When the alcohol content reaches 5,5%, the drink enters the stage of fermentation or secondary fermentation.
Future sparkling wine roams in autoclaves – closed pressure vessels. In them, carbon dioxide (a by-product of the process) is captured and dissolved in wine. It is he who is the source of the bubbles in the drink. This method is called the Martinotti method after its creator. Although outside of Italy it is called the “Asti method”.
The fermentation of Asti champagne is stopped by cooling, when the alcohol content is 7-9%, and the residual sugar is 3-5%.
After filtration from yeast, it is bottled under conditions of absolute microbiological sterility.
What is the difference between Asti and French champagne
Shake, calls Asti sparkling wine champagne, although in reality this is not entirely true. The word “champagne” can only refer to wine from the Champagne region of France. What is the difference between these sparkling drinks:
Grape sort
For champagne, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grapes are used, for Asti – white muscat.
Manufacturing method
Both types belong to drinks obtained by secondary fermentation technology. However, champagne is re-fermented directly in bottles, and Asti sparkling wine in closed autoclaves.
Taste
Asti belongs to the category of sweet wines, while champagne is characterized by high acidity and is closer to dry drinks.
Cost
Compared to the original champagne, Asti is a fairly affordable option for an alcoholic drink.
Popular brands of Asti
The market offers a wide selection of Asti sparkling wine from different producers. Let’s review the most popular and available for purchase:
Asti Martini by Bacardi Martini
Sweet, sparkling, white. Light straw color. It has a strength of 7,5%.
Sweet taste instantly bestows notes of apple, peach, fragrant orange and honey.
Fruity sparkling wine smells sweet with notes of fresh grapes.
The table is perfectly complemented by cheeses, fruits and sweet desserts.
Moscato d’Asti от Abbey of San Gaudenzio
Sparkling wine is sweet, white. It has a light yellow color with golden tints.
The taste is elegant, bright fruity, leaving a refreshing aftertaste.
Notes of juicy peach and apricot are perceptible in the aroma.
The drink is combined with various fruits, desserts, as well as pastries: dry cookies, muffins, nut pie.
Mondoro Asti
Sweet white champagne. The sugar content in the drink is 90 g/l, the strength is 7,5%.
The sweet taste is diluted with a pleasant sourness.
The aroma is full of muscat shades intertwined with the smells of flowers and honey.
The drink is good in combination with light desserts, fruits and ice cream.
Santero Asti
Sparkling wine, white, sweet. It has a straw yellow color with persistent perlage.
The taste is fresh and balanced.
The aroma is subtle, with hints of sage, fruits and muscat grapes.
Champagne is ideal for a variety of sweets, pastries and other desserts.
Moscato d’Asti with Stefano Farina
Sweet, sparkling, white wine, 5% abv.
The color of champagne is straw-gold.
The taste has delicate floral and fruity notes.
The fragrance breathes notes of apricot and white peach, which are enveloped in a pleasant smell of white flowers.
It will be a great addition to cakes, ice cream, fruit pies and fresh fruit.
Moscato D’Asti by Canti
Sparkling, white, sweet wine of light golden color. Fortress – 5,5%.
The taste of the drink is seductively clean, with floral and fruity undertones. Gives a long aftertaste.
The fresh aroma begins with the tenderness of fruits, then a floral nuance is revealed.
A first-class option for an aperitif, the drink is also suitable for drinking with fruits and desserts.
How to distinguish a fake Asti
Some of the manufacturers promote counterfeit products using the Asti name and its quality marks (DOCG) and place them on their packages, which is strictly prohibited. But how to distinguish a fake from the original product? We share a couple of tips:
The name of the drink is written on the label in Latin letters. If you come across a Russian-language version, beware of counterfeit.
Pay attention to the region of production of the drink. The original Asti is made exclusively in the Piedmont region, in Italy. The absence of a manufacturing country or an indication of another country indicates a fake.
On the label of this champagne there is the emblem of the Asti DOCG Consortium, which is a confirmation of the high quality of the wine.
Do not buy sparkling right away, take a couple of minutes to familiarize yourself with the information on the bottle. This will protect you from purchasing low-quality goods.
How to drink Asti
- Asti is served chilled to 6-8 degrees.
- The drink is poured into a classic sparkling glass, or into a flute glass.
- Sparkling wine goes well with sweet desserts and white chocolate.
- After 2 years, the wine quickly loses its “freshness”. Its flavor notes become heavier, and the typical fruity aroma characteristic of Asti practically disappears.
Relevance: 08.05.2018
Tags: Wine and vermouth, Sparkling wine brands