Moscato

The name says it all: La Gatta (the cat) doesn't sneak into the glass – she purrs her way into it. This Moscato d'Asti from the best plots around Canelli shows how much character can be found in a delicately sparkling white wine. The vines are rooted in calcareous soils with south to south-east exposure, which gives the grapes optimum ripeness and aromatic concentration. Harvested in the cool morning hours and fermented at a controlled temperature, the natural residual sugar is retained and fermentation is stopped early – this keeps the alcohol content low and the flavour high.

Moscato d'Asti is one of Piedmont's oldest aromatic wines – and Fontanile, north of Nizza Monferrato, has been one of its finest vineyards for centuries. When Giovanni Agostino Bertolino acquired Tenuta Bauda in 1961 and later Cascina Centive in this very village, he was guided by a simple conviction: where the soil provides the right conditions, the wine needs little more than careful hands. 100% Moscato Bianco from organically farmed vineyards. Hand-harvested, gently pressed, short maceration time, fermentation in autoclaves at low temperatures for 20 to 30 days – the delicate effervescence develops during fermentation. Fermentation is halted by cooling, followed by microfiltration and bottling as early as November – just two months after the harvest. It doesn't get much fresher than this.

Monte Gibele is the mountain that towers over Pantelleria – and which means so much to Carlo Pellegrino that they have dedicated a wine to it. The family has had deep roots in Marsala since 1880, steeped in the aromas of the western Sicilian coast, Lake Stagnone and the island of Pantelleria. The Gibelè is their aromatic statement: Sicily's first dry Zibibbo. Making a dry Zibibbo sounds simple but is a bold move. The grape variety is naturally explosively aromatic and tends towards opulence. When vinified in stainless steel, in a cool and clean environment, it retains its freshness and loses its heaviness.

Moscato Giallo has a history stretching back centuries in South Tyrol. Almost always sweet, often served with dessert: that is its tradition, and it is a fine one. The Bozen Winery is taking a different approach. The same grape variety, the same aromatic intensity, but vinified as a dry wine. What remains is the essence of Muscat without the sugar coating. The grapes come from warm, sun-drenched vineyards around Bolzano at altitudes of between 300 and 550 metres. Gentle pressing, controlled fermentation in stainless steel. The result is a white wine that openly displays its aromas without losing its freshness.

This seductive Goldmuskateller is produced from carefully selected, sun-exposed hillside vineyards around Bolzano at an altitude of 300-550 metres, continuing the centuries-old tradition of this aromatic grape variety in South Tyrol. In the warm, well-ventilated sites, the Moscato Giallo grapes thrive under ideal conditions until the end of September and develop the intense muscat flavour that makes this variety so unmistakable.

A great, fresh and fruity Moscato from a specialist: fresh, fine nuances of yellow fruit, sage and white flowers. Delicate and fine perlage, wonderful drinking flow. Lively and electric, with freshly cut peach, candied lemon peel, fresh mint and wild flowers all swirling out of the glass. The palate is sweet, but not sticky, with plenty of stone fruit. The balance of this wine is masterful, with a tangy acidity that keeps the wine lively at all times and makes each glass as refreshing as the first. SUPERIORE.DE

A hint of morning freshness: Al Qasar is the lighter side of Zibibbo, dry, elegant and designed for subtlety. Yellow in colour with a delicate golden shimmer in the glass. The nose opens with charming aromas of orange blossom, peach skin and a hint of elderflower. On the palate, it is clear and fragrant, with lively acidity, a creamy fruit centre and a floral finish that ends in svelteharmony. Al Qasar is an uncomplicated, yet characterful Zibibbo – ideal as an aperitif, with light antipasti or a fine fritto di mare. Elegant, dry and extremely charming. SUPERIORE.DE

Dry Moscato from the Noto coast – unusual, but all the stronger in character. Allemanda comes from the south of Sicily, where the calcareous, sandy soils of Tenuta Buonivini and the Mediterranean climate create a unique terroir for aromatic grape varieties. Maturation in stainless steel tanks emphasises the purity and finesse of this rarely dry Muscat variety. Pale straw yellow in the glass with silver reflections. The aroma is clear and animating: lychee, white peach, lemon balm, wild flowers and a hint of nutmeg. Lively and dry on the palate, with a lean structure, well-integrated acidity and a delicate, almost salty finish. No opulence, but precise flavours with a fine spiciness. Allemanda shows that Moscato in the right location can also be a fragrant, elegant white wine. Ideal with summer cuisine, ceviche or marinated fennel with citrus. An original wine for explorers. SUPERIORE.DE

This still Muscat, which was conceived as the "little brother" of Torcolato and Acininobili, is a masterpiece and proves once again that Fausto Maculan is one of the world's best producers of dessert wines. Dindarello enchants with a marvellous blend of peach sorbet, kiwi and fresh mint. These aromas accompany the wonderfully full flavour right through to the finish. Its perfect balance between sweetness and acidity will ennoble any meal. SUPERIORE.DE

Harvested earliest, at the beginning of September, when the Moscato berries have reached their aromatic ripeness and the freshness has not yet been overwhelmed by the autumn sun. Only four days of fermentation at 18°C: the wine retains its residual sugar, its perlage and its lightness. 100% Moscato Bianco from the Asti region, the only region where this combination of grape variety, climate and expertise produces this depth. Golden yellow in colour and inviting. Peach, apricot, orange blossom, wisteria, sage and citrus on the nose – elegant, aromatic, typical of this variety in its most beautiful form. Sweet and fresh on the palate, well-balanced, rich and pleasant. At 6 to 8°C – and with people you like. SUPERIORE.DE

Moscato Giallo is one of the most fragrant grape varieties in South Tyrol – and one of the most vulnerable. In the wrong hands it becomes sugary sweet and arbitrary, in the right hands it shows something rare: aromatic depth with complete dryness. Nals Margreid cultivates it in the southernmost part of its vineyard area, in Margreid – the warmest, most Mediterranean tip between Nals and Lake Garda. The vineyards lie at an altitude of 220 to 350 metres, exposed to the south-southeast, on white, broodinglimestone gravel soil with a high humus content. The climate bears the fingerprint of the Ora, the warm afternoon wind that blows daily from Lake Garda over the slopes, extending the growing season and shaping the flavour of the grapes. Hand-picked, three weeks of fermentation in steel, five months of ageing on the fine lees.

Here comes a cheerful and lively delight for the glass and the heart: a straw-yellow sparkle with a silvery sheen and a fine, persistent effervescence. On the nose, it's a dance of fruit and florals: peach, white blossoms, rose petals, a hint of orange blossom and delicate musky notes – all fresh, playful and spicy. On the palate, it is sweet yet never heavy, with refreshing lightness, delicate acidity and a gentle aroma that swings into a soft, aromatic final. The Moscato grapes are grown in Mango d'Alba, are gently processed (including controlled fermentation in an autoclave) and undergo a short period of bottle ageing — very typical of the variety and with a refined style. Vigna Senza Nome is not a classic dessert wine, but a charming, vibrant experience – like a summery greeting from Piedmont. SUPERIORE.DE

A pale straw-yellow colour with a fine, persistent effervescence. The Moscato d'Autunno is Saracco's most intense expression: made from musts derived from Moscato Bianco di Canelli, which are pressed with particular care after the harvest, stored in cool conditions and later fermented in pressure tanks – ensuring that the purity, freshness and depth of the aromas are perfectly preserved. On the nose, there are aromas of orange blossom, white peach and lime zest, underpinned by thyme and a delicate hint of blossom honey. On the palate, it is sweet but never heavy: the delicate mousse carries juicy stone fruit, a lively, lemony acidity and a crisp, mineral note right through to the long, fragrant finish. Highly appealing and, year after year, one of the finest examples of its kind. SUPERIORE.DE

When people say "Novello", they mean "Barolo". The Cogno family cultivates around 15 hectares here, 9.5 of which are in the Ravera vineyard, and the fact that there is also one hectare of Moscato at an altitude of 400 metres is one of the estate's charming quirks. The vineyard is called Primo Bacio; with 4,000 vines per hectare trained on wires on sandy soil, the grapes are harvested in September. Gentle pressing, clarification and cool fermentation at 15 degrees using selected yeasts, without malolactic fermentation, result in a wine with an alcohol content of just 5.5% by volume.

A dry Zibibbo (Moscato from Alexandria) from the island of Pantelleria, grown at altitudes of around 300 metres on iron-rich soils of volcanic origin. Isesi is delicately floral, with aromas of honeysuckle and perfumed star jasmine, which is aptly known in Italy as Sicilian jasmine. On the palate, it is dry and well-balanced, with just the right amount of softness, freshness and lightness that make this high-quality white wine so incredibly charming and delicate. SUPERIORE.DE

A vibrant, radiant colour, rich in green-gold hues. The rich bouquet of this Moscato d'Alessandria (Zibibbo) is floral, with notes of white roses and acacia, followed by mineral notes, peach and orange blossom, finishing with candied citrus fruits and a hint of honey. On the palate, the mineral-driven aromas are confirmed, along with a fresh, spicy and enveloping structure. SUPERIORE.DE

A house that is world-famous for its monumental Barolo crus produces one of the best Moscato d'Asti ever – this is not a contradiction, but a Piedmontese matter of course. The grapes come from forty-year-old Guyot vines in Castiglione Tinella, on soils rich in limestone and clay, where Moscato Bianco has been at home for generations. After gentle pressing and natural cold clarification, the must is stored at the lowest possible temperature without the addition of sulphites – and only fermented in batches in an autoclave when required. At around 5.5 per cent by volume, a cold shock stops the fermentation and thus preserves the natural residual sweetness and delicate aromas.

An elegant sweet wine with a history: Bricco Quaglia was one of the first selected single-vineyard Moscato in Italy. The organically cultivated vines (approx. 300 metres above sea level, calcareous-sandy soil) lend it style and origin. Pale straw yellow in the glass with a visible perlage. The nose opens with fruity freshness: green apples, pear and juicy peach, plus floral notes of honeysuckle and elderberry and a fine hint of sage. Lively and juicy on the palate: sweet fruit, accompanied by elegant freshness, fine sweetness and a wonderfully balanced, sparkling texture. The finish is clean, clear and long – a Moscato with an animating lightness and polished flavour structure. SUPERIORE.DE

Perched high above Lake Kaltern is the Vogelmaierhof, where cool downdrafts sweep through the side valley, lending the Goldmuskateller its characteristic freshness. This organically farmed plot, situated between 300 and 400 metres above sea level, is considered a hidden gem in the Lageder range. The dry vinification brings out the full character of this aromatic grape variety: some of the grapes are fermented as whole bunches, whilst the rest mature for six months on the fine lees in stainless steel.

Moscato Bianco di Canelli – the most aromatic variety of Muscat, at home in the hills of Astigiano for centuries. Prunotto, one of the most reliable addresses in the Langhe since 1904, presses a wine from it that makes no compromises: only fruit, only flavour, only freshness. Hand-picked from 4 to 16 September 2025, the grapes are pressed and initially spend a short time in the press – enough time for the flavours from the skins to pass into the "mosto fiore". Stainless steel tanks, controlled fermentation down to 5.0% alcohol, then fermentation interrupted by cooling. No wood, no detours – the wine remains entirely its own.

Three Moscati, three characters: La Spinetta adds a third voice to its trio with San Rocco. Since 1977, Bricco Quaglia and Biancospino have characterised the aromatic spectrum of the house – one with peach and sage, the other with citrus and floral freshness. The San Rocco finds its own place: the organically cultivated vines produce grapes of high ripeness and aromatic density.

Biancospino shines in the glass with a light straw yellow colour and a subtle greenish tinge. The nose already reveals delicate aromas of mandarin, lime and geranium blossom, livened up by salty minerality and white flowers. On the palate, a finely sparkling mousse, lively freshness, a delicate spicy note and aromatic support form a finish full of character. The ageing in stainless steel emphasises the clarity of the fruit and the typical Moscato notes – a finesse-rich, natural aperitif with plenty of vigour and elegance. SUPERIORE.DE