Asti Flashcards
1
Q
Location
A
Delineated region within Piedmont, 53 communes,
- 9700 ha vineyards
Grapes can be sources from the entire province of Asti and part of the adjoining provinces of Alessandria (15% of production) to the east and Cuneo to the west (ASti and Cuneo 85% production)
2
Q
Climate
A
Warm continental with cold winters by hot summers
3
Q
Vineyard
A
- Foothill of northern alps, 200-500m atitude
- All plantings must be on slopes, 30-50% gradient
- Limestone, clay, and chalk soils
- 10 tonnes/HA yield
- new plantings min 4000 vines/ha
- Minimum potential 9% abv
4
Q
Grape Varieties
A
Moscato Bianco (Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains)
- small berries - pungent grapey, floral and spice aromas
- difficult to grow
- susceptible to diseases and insects
5
Q
Winery
A
In theory can be make in the bottle, but typically variation on the tank method
Vinification:
- Juice yield: 75L/100kg grapes
- abv final wine 7-9.5%
Production:
- variation on tank (though bottle ferm. allowed)
- pressed, settled, must at near freezing
- ferm starts and CO2 allowed to escape
- tank sealed, form continues to approx 7% abv and 5-6 atm.
- wine filtered under spressure
Maturation, finishing, and style:
- min maturation, including ferm, 30 days
- in bottle with local region using glass bottles, traditional sparkling wine cork
- vintage allowed on label
- average residual sugar approx. 100g/L
6
Q
Important trade structures
A
- 4000+ small growers who generally sell their grapes to large companies or co-operatives
- 80+ million bottles annually, largest producing DOCG
- exported to EU and USA
- challenge: promoting value of Asti DOCG wines over cheaper Moscato-based wines
7
Q
History
A
1870 - Carlo Gancia made first sparkling Asti, Moscato Champagne
1967 - DOP
1993 - DOCG
8
Q
Taste profile
A
- pale
- orange blossom, peaches, grape
- sweet, creamy mousse
- moderate acidity
- long perfumed finish
9
Q
Top Companies
A
Martini & Rossi
Gruppo Campari (Cinzano)
Fratelli-Martini
Gancia
