Moscato d'Asti Bricco Quaglia 2024

La Spinetta's Moscato d'Asti Bricco Quaglia comes from vineyards located around Castagnole delle Lanze, in the heart of Piedmont's hills, in northwest Italy. The vines are planted on well-exposed slopes, at a moderate altitude, benefiting from a continental climate tempered by alpine influences. The soils, mainly composed of limestone marl and clay, promote a beautiful aromatic expression of the Muscat grape. This mosaic of plots yields a delicate sparkling wine, marked by the freshness and finesse of its terroir.

The Moscato grapes are hand-picked from the Bricco Quaglia vineyard, then gently pressed before a slow fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. This is carried out at low temperatures to preserve the primary aromas and is interrupted by cooling to retain some of the natural sugars and a low alcohol content. The wine is then kept on fine lees in pressurized stainless steel tanks, before isobaric bottling to preserve its freshness and natural effervescence.

This wine reveals notes of white peach, juicy pear, and citrus zest, complemented by floral touches of orange blossom and linden, as well as subtle mineral nuances that bring tension. On the palate, the moderate sweetness is balanced by a lively acidity and a fine effervescence, offering a silky and airy texture. The finish is fresh, slightly honeyed, and persistent, leaving an impression of great drinkability and harmony.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!