Buon Natale!

Most of you out there have probably heard of Asti Spumonte. It was a sweet sparkler that was very popular with the "sophisticated" college crowd of the 1970's. The Spumonte part has now been dropped in an effort to improve its image. Moscato d'Asti is a cousin of Asti. Both are produced in the same region in the Piedmont and from the same grape. But Moscato is slightly sweeter, with fewer bubbles and lower in alcohol. In Piedmont it is a tradition to have a glass of Moscato in celebration on Christmas. A Big Slice says let's bring that tradition to America. It is tough to find someone who will not like this wine. Even the most hardened wine snob will have a tough time holding back a smile when they sip this, for lack of a better word, innocent little aperitif. The wonderful thing about Moscato is that it retains just enough acidity to keep it fresh and youthful. It is a light as a whisper and the low alcohol won't go to anyone's head before dinner. When buying Moscato d'Asti, check to see how often these wines are restocked. The NV on the label (or a lack of date) refers to non-vintage. You want to seek out a recent bottle as these wines were not made to be aged. And we have tried many different produces and styles do vary slightly, some more acidic than others. But, though different, each and every one is a winner!