With high probability we can say that all the New Year's tables of the world are accompanied by champagne. However, drinks from the French Champagne region are much less common than Italian sparkling wines. One of the brightest representatives of the hissing alcoholic community of Italy is Asti champagne. Martini Asti is even more popular. What is the highlight of this drink? Let's figure it out.
Story
Despite the fact that White Muscat grapes (Moscato bianco) are one of the oldest in Italy, Asti's champagne history is not so grandiose.
Since the fourteenth century, sweet wine made from white grapes has become highly regarded in the eastern Mediterranean. Through Venice (Venezia) it came to Italy. In the republic, the drink was called "Greek wine".
Giovan Battista Croce moved to Piedmont at the end of the 16th century. As a jeweler of the Duke Carl Emmanuel I of Savoy (Savoia Carlo Emanuele I), he tried his hand at winemaking, and is considered to be the founder of this industry in the region. His experiments led to the creation of the sweet, aromatic, white wine Moscato d'Asti.
One of the winegrowers repeated the experiment of Croce and in 1606 described it in a book on winemaking. Some technologies from this manual are still used: thorough cleaning (removal of pectin and mucous substances), the use of cold to stop fermentation.
Carlo Gancia in 1865 applied French champagne technology to his company’s wines in Canelli. First, red drinks “leaked” through the experiment, then it came to white muscat. At that time, the resulting product was called "Muscat Champagne" (Moscato Champagne). Now it is known as Asti's sparkling wine.
His success was astounding. Many companies began to make their favorite wine. Among the first was the famous distillery Martini and Rossi (Martini & Rossi) in the city of Montechiaro d'Asti (Montechiaro d'Asti).
In the 20th century, Federico Martinotti improved and patented a method for producing sparkling wines. Then Alfredo Marone improved the pressure filtration system. This is how Asti's ideal champagne production technology came into being. Large volumes of the drink were exported under the name Asti Spumante.
December 17, 1932 the owners of large distilleries convened a consortium for the supervision of the production of sparkling wine. In 1993, Asti wine received the DOCG category, which emphasizes its value and quality.
Popular brands
The Asti wine market has 15 major Piedmont distilleries. All of them produce a wide range of grape drinks with various names. About every 8 out of 10 Asti champagne bottles are made by these 15 companies. We will present to your attention the top ten Italian leaders in the global sizzling wine industry:
- Martini & Rossi Asti - champagne from the company of the same name. The taste is sweet with the aroma of apples, honey, citrus and peaches. The color is light straw. The alcohol content is 7.5%.
- Mondoro Asti is an exquisite champagne with many international awards. The sweet taste is accentuated by aromas of pineapple, peach, pear and floral-honey notes. The color is straw-golden. The alcohol content is 7.5%.
- Tosti Asti - "sizzling" wine company Tosti, with a long history. The taste is sweet, balanced with the aroma of pears and wisteria. The color is light straw with golden glimpses. The alcohol content is 7.5%.
- Cinzano Asti is a delightful champagne for the Cinzano company, which is once again gaining popularity. Delicate taste with light traces of honey and fragrant herbs, shaded by the smell of flowering acacia, sage, vanilla and melon. The color is pale golden. The alcohol content is 7%.
- Gancia Spumante Asti - champagne from white muscat, grown in the city of Canelli (Canelli). The taste is bright with notes of fruit, sage and honey. The color is golden straw. The alcohol content is 7.5%.
- Fontanafredda Asti is an excellent champagne with the name Galerey (Galarej) from the company Fontanafredda. The taste is dense with a long strawberry finish. It features notes of hawthorn, ripe fruit and rosemary. Colors of straw with a slightly green tint. The alcohol content is 7%.
- Riccadonna Asti is a full-fledged sparkling drink with a fresh, slightly sweet taste. It has fruity floral notes and a pale straw color. The alcohol content is 7%.
- Zonin Asti - sweet sparkling wine company Zonin, which has factories not only in Italy but also in the United States. The taste is not sugary sweet with the typical aroma of white muscat. The color is straw with sparkling golden tones. The alcohol content is 7.5%.
- Santero Asti - champagne company Santero, specializing in the production of not only sparkling, but also classic wines. The taste is fresh with the aroma of apples and spices. The color is straw yellow. The alcohol content is 7.5%.
- Vallebelbo San Maurizio Asti - sparkling wine that begins its life in the vineyards near the city of Santo Stefano Belbo (Santo Stefano Belbo). It has a balanced sweet taste with a delicate finish. The color is light golden. The alcohol content is 7.5%.
It is worth noting that all of these brands produce Asti sparkling wine belonging to the DOCG category. Please note that Asti champagne and Moscato d'Asti white wine are different drinks. The latter is characterized by lower strength (4.5-5%) and sparkling. Therefore, the bottles are not corked with a special system that is typical for champagne, but with an ordinary cork.
- Read also about the Martini brand
The production cycle
Asti's champagne production technology is almost the same in all companies producing a DOCG drink. The manufacture of such products is strictly regulated. Martini Asti is a great example of the highest quality. Today, the process of obtaining it is the result of the traditions of winemaking in Piedmont and the latest research in this area. We will look at the way of sparkling wine from a vine to a glass.
Vine
Asti champagne is born from White Muscat grapes. 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 the vineyards should be at least 4000 vines / ha, the yield of grapes - more than 10t / ha.
Valuable aromatic substances accumulate in the last weeks before harvest and reach their maximum level in the first days of September. During this period, they begin to pick grapes. All operations are manual, in order to preserve the integrity of the berries and convey their aroma to the drink intact.
Getting a wort
The white nutmeg after collection is immediately sent to the spin shop, where it turns into a must in large tanks. Raw materials after filtration from unnecessary impurities are pressed by a gentle method called "soffice". The wort thus obtained is cooled to low temperatures (just above zero) in order to avoid the onset of unwanted fermentation.
Fermentation
The next stage in Asti's champagne life cycle is 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 goes into 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 bubbles in the drink. This method is called the Martinotti method by the name of its creator. Although outside of Italy it is called the "Asti method".
Bottling
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. Martini Asti DOCG, obtained by the above technology, retains all the characteristics of the aroma of grapes "White Muscat", saturating it with a rich taste and brightness of sweet sparkling wine.
Unlike French Champagne
Like most people in our article we call Asti sparkling wine champagne, although in fact this is not entirely true. The word "champagne" can only be called wine from the French Champagne region. What is the difference between these sparkling drinks:
- Grape sort. For champagne, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grapes are used; for Asti wine, white muscat.
- Manufacturing method. Both types belong to the drinks obtained by the technology of secondary fermentation. However, champagne wanders again directly in bottles, and Asti's sparkling wine in closed autoclaves.
- Taste. Asti belongs to the category of sweet wines, while champagne is distinguished by high acidity and is more similar to dry drinks.
- Cost. Compared to the original champagne, Asti is an affordable option for a festive alcoholic drink. Although the huge popularity of Asti affected the fact that its price is higher than that of sparkling wines from other countries.
It is said that sparkling wine is not champagne, but champagne is sparkling wine. Choosing the most suitable drink for you is completely in your hands.
What to drink and how to use
Asti Martini is often used very young, since after 2 years the wine quickly loses its freshness. Its floral notes become heavier, and the typical fruity aroma characteristic of this champagne almost disappears.
Although Asti belongs to the category of sweet drinks, it has sufficient acidity. It is often used in conjunction with salads, spicy Asian dishes, pastries, desserts, sweet fruits and nuts. Champagne is served chilled to 6-8 degrees.
You will be surprised, but sparkling wine can be consumed not only on its own. Many world-famous chefs use it to prepare delicious dishes. Stew meat with him, cook fruit, season salads. There are even champagne risotto recipes.
We will tell you the recipe for an amazing fish dish.
Trout marinated in Asti Martini
To prepare this unusual dish for 6-8 people, you will need:
- 1.2 kg trout fillet;
- 120 g of olive oil;
- 2 pcs. carrots;
- 4 things. shallots;
- 1 medium onion;
- 8 cloves of garlic;
- 2 branches of sage;
- 3 bay leaves;
- 150 g of wine vinegar;
- 350 g Asti Martini;
- 70 g of raisins;
- 100 g of roasted pine nuts;
- Salt, pepper and chopped herbs to taste.
Season the trout fillet with salt, pepper and fresh herbs. Roll into rolls and wrap them in baking paper, pressing firmly. Cook the fish for a couple of 20 minutes, and then after cooling, send it to the refrigerator for several hours.
In the meantime, proceed to the marinade: lightly fry chopped shallots, carrots, onions, garlic, sage and a bay leaf in oil. Reduce the heat to a minimum, pour them with vinegar, and then Asti Martini. Add raisins and pine nuts. Remove the trout from paper and cut into small pieces. Place them in a suitable container, fill with marinade and refrigerate for at least a day.
Remove the dish before serving so that it reaches room temperature. And although this recipe is not too cheap, but its unusualness and amazing taste will become the highlight of your holiday table.
Price
Arriving in Italy, be sure to buy Asti Martini to celebrate your long-awaited vacation - for example,the price in an ordinary Roman supermarket does not exceed 6 euros per 750 ml.
Domestic consumers can buy sparkling wine brand Martini at a price of 1200 to 1600 rubles for 750 ml.
Now we have told you everything you can know about Asti's Italian sparkling wine. Live dynamically, love competently, travel on your own and remember: "Happiness is not in the bubbles, but in their quantity!"
