2022 MOSCATO D’ASTI, Massolino. Piedmont, Italy

The Langhe Hills in Piedmont, south of Turin, are home to both the revered white truffle and the great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. For something altogether more frivolous, there is Moscato……

100% Moscato (Italian for Muscat); the fermentation is stopped at half-way point, leaving natural grape sweetness and a gentle fizz.

Franco Massolino makes both old-school and modern Barolo, from his 23 hectare estate based in Serralunga D’Alba, the heart of the region. He also has a few patches of Moscato in the higher sections of the estate, which is just on the western edge of the Moscato D’Asti DOCG region.

Drink young, don’t cellar.

This is un-serious but light, delicate and charming. (The sugar level is 145g per litre, quite low by the standard of most sweet wines) Made this skilfully, the pure, aromatic Moscato fruit character is truly impressive.

Drink on its own or with light fruit-based sweets.