Alasia Moscato d’Asti

The Muscat grape (in French and English) and Moscato in Italian, is an ancient grape variety whose unique quality is that it produces wines that taste of grapes! It also produces wines that are often naturally spritzy and rather sweet, especially when produced by the Piedmont chilled arrested fermentation process that leaves much of the grapes’ sugar unconverted into alcohol, whilst still producing  deep and exotic flavours and aromas.

This version from Aladica, the largest co-operative producer in the Piedmont, is a fine example, and very good value for money.  It is marinated in the flavours of the muscat grapes: apricots, honey and grapes prevented from being entirely sickly by the gentle natural spritz and a valiant showing of its 5.5% alcohol, all especially pleasant when served well chilled.  This makes it an ideal lunchtime drink or a light refresher to linger over after a long al-fresco dinner.  But to drink a lot of it, you need to have a sweet tooth.