Formerly sold as Asti Spumante, the spumante (which means “sparkling”) has been removed because it has become tarnished by cheap products that also use the term. It is now known simply as Asti and has been promoted to full DOCG status, which the best wines deserve, but an increasing number of underperformers do not. Italy’s finest sparkling wine, and one of the most famous wines in the world, Asti is made by cuve close, which is far superior to the traditional method when producing an aromatic, sweet sparkling wine. The grapes used are grown in 52 communes throughout the provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Alessandria.
The best Asti has a fine mousse of tiny bubbles, a fresh and grapey aroma, a luscious sweetness, and a light, delicately rich floweryfruitiness that hints at peaches. Asti should be consumed as young as possible primarily because one of the most important compounds contributing to the Moscato aroma is geraniol, which is wonderful when fresh, but with bottleage assumes a pungent geranium odor. Gancia’s special selection cuvée called Camilo Gancia (no longer produced) was the best Asti I ever tasted. See also Moscato d’Asti DOCG.
Upon purchase Barbero (Conte di Cavour) • Walter Barbero
(Acini Dolce) • Batasiolo • Bersano
• Capetta • Villa Carlotta • Cerutti (Cesare)
• Conte di Cavour • Giuseppe Contratto
• Romano Dogliotti (La Selvatica)
• Fontanafredda (Millesimato) • Marenco O
• De Miranda • Mondoro • Perlino
• Sperone • Tosti • Cantina Sociale Vallebelbo
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