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<strong>ITA</strong>LY<br />
– DISCOVERY –<br />
The vineyards of Casa Vinicola Abbazia owned by the Santero family in Santo Stefano Belbo, a small town between<br />
Monferrato, Langhe and Roero<br />
The areas where Moscato Bianco grapes are<br />
grown to produce Asti Docg and Moscato<br />
d’Asti Docg boast landscapes that cannot<br />
be found in any other Italian region. The<br />
area was defined in 1932 and includes<br />
52 localities situated in the provinces of<br />
Alessandria, Asti and Cuneo. Around 9,700 hectares of<br />
Moscato Bianco vineyards are registered in the Docg, and<br />
over 4,000 companies produce the wines. There are two<br />
different hilly macro-zones:<br />
- the Langhe, with a more elongated shape and long,<br />
slightly steep ridges.<br />
- Monferrato, with gentler hills, characterized by greater<br />
biodiversity.<br />
These areas are as diverse as they are complementary and<br />
make these designations exceptional.<br />
Although both made from Moscato Bianco, these are two<br />
different areas and designations: Asti Docg and Moscato<br />
d’Asti Docg. Moscato d’Asti, which does not undergo a<br />
secondary fermentation, is not a sparkling wine, even if it<br />
is sometimes characterized by a slight natural beading (it is<br />
said to be “racy”). Asti, conversely, is a true sparkling wine.<br />
SPRING 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE 83
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