San Silvestro Asti Spumante

^{This post has been sponsored by San Silvestro. All opinions expressed are my own. This message is intended for those 21+. Please enjoy responsibly.}

Today we're sampling an Asti Spumante from the historic San Silvestro winery in Piedmont, Italy. Asti Spumante is consistently praised for its delightful sweetness and refreshing acidity, beloved for its floral and fruit-forward aromas.

Here, we'll be taking a brief tour of Italy's Piedmont region, as well as the winery itself, before sampling the wine's aromatics and flavor. We'll also be providing pairings and serving suggestions to ensure you get the most out of this bottle of bubbly.

Now, without further delay, let's get tasting.

Wine Overview

Quick Facts

• Winery: This bubbly comes to us from the San Silvestro Winery, formally known as Cantine San Silvestro. This is a historic estate, with centuries-old roots in Italy's Piedmont region. As of this review, the winery continues operation under the Sartirano family, who have run the winery for some four generations, dating back to 1871.
• Grape Varietals: This wine is 100% Moscato Bianco grapes.
• ABV: 7% alcohol by volume.
• Price: As of this review, this wine costs about $15 USD.

Region - Piedmont, Italy

Located in northern Italy, Piedmont abuts the Alps and is characterized by rolling hills and graced by 'merely moderate' elevations. Featuring a 'thoroughly continental' climate, the region sees cold winters and warm summers, which in turn ensures the area's suitability for grape growing. This is especially true during the growing season, when daytime temperatures are typically quite warm, and the nights are pleasantly cool, contributing to the development of aromatic compounds in the grapes. The diurnal temperature variation helps retain the grapes' natural acidity, a crucial factor in the refreshing and balanced nature of Asti DOCG wines. In essence, the area's terroir is tailor-made for sparkling wine.

Asti soils are a mix of clay, limestone, and sandstone, which help the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, while copious sea breezes serve to help the vines retain their acidity.

Within the Asti DOCG, the Moscato Bianco grape variety takes center stage - encompassing well over ninety-nine percent of all wines produced therein. This aromatic white grape is known for its floral and fruity characteristics, making it a perfect choice for the production of sparkling wines. By regulation, Asti Spumante must be made almost exclusively from Moscato Bianco grapes, ensuring the wine's distinctive and delightful profile.

Aromatic and Tasting Notes

On the Nose

Off the top of the glass, there are notes of apricot and ripe peach, with subtle pear essences deeper into the glass. This creates a lush, fruit-forward profile that's instantly festive and inviting. These fruit notes are framed in floral essences, especially orange blossom and jasmine, with copious honeysuckle. Syrupy notes or honey essences are laced throughout.

On the Palate

On the palate, this bubbly is pleasantly sweet and very festive from the first sip. The body is light and fresh, with a zesty acidity and gentle effervescence, and is never cloying. Very pleasant.

Finish

The finish is palate-cleansing and refreshing, with lingering fruit notes.

Wine Score

This bottle does exactly what it sets out to do. It is a delicious, festive Moscato, one that provides great value for its price tag. For that reason, I'll rate it a very respectable 90.

Food Pairings

1. Fruit-based Desserts: This means fruit pies, tarts, or simple fruit salads. Bonus points if using wine syrup for the fruit salad. The go-to fruits I would use are peaches, apples, or mixed berries.
2. Creamy Desserts: Panna cotta would be a delicious pairing. Crème brulee or cheesecake would also be fantastic. Ice cream, particularly homemade vanilla ice cream, would be delicious.
3. Cheese and Charcuterie: Strong and pungent cheeses, especially salty cheeses like gorgonzola, would pair deliciously. A decent charcuterie board, however, would be my go-to.

Who is this Wine For?

Sweet-tooth drinkers are the primary audience, especially those who find traditional brut champagnes or dry prosecco to be too bitter or acidic. By contrast, this wine features high residual sugar and so will appeal to those who enjoy a lush, fruit-forward profile. Also, those who are looking for affordable and festive bottles for casual entertaining will most definitely find something to love here.

And that's our review of San Silvestro Asti Spumante. If you enjoyed this review, or sampled the wine or any of its pairings, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!

Cheers!