Perhaps you find champagne is too expensive, or too stodgy, and not sweet enough.  Perhaps you want to celebrate life with something sweet and carefree, but don’t want to pay a lot for your fizz.  What is one to do?  If you like moscato, than sparkling moscato (or moscato spumante) maybe just what you’re looking for.   Perhaps there is no brand more recognized in the moscato spumante space than Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante.  While it may not have the finesse of it’s cousin Moscato d’Asti, it certainly moves units.  So what does Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante deliver that keeps bringing people back?

Sight:  Light gold with plentiful small bubbles.

Smell:  Super ripe stone fruit, including peaches, nectarines, and apricots all jump up.  Notes of honey and rock candy all add strongly to the character.  There are some floral characters too.

Sip:  Sweet with plentiful bubbles making for a lively mouthfeel.  The notes of apricot and nectarine all jump up and come with plenty of ripe sweetness.  Hints of honey and floral notes are around the edges.

Savor:  The ending is quick, and finishes with just a flicker of fruit and flowers.

Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is an amazing combination of sweet and fruit in a sparkling package.  It’s not hard to see why this wine is a best seller across the country, sweet and fruity makes it easy to drink, and $10 makes it a fantastic impulse buy.  While some fans of dry wines will scoff, there’s not much to complain about here.  If you want something more complicated, check out Moscato d’Asti, but for those who just want a sweet good time at new years or any other celebration, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is a sure fire bet.

Verdict:  Super Ripe Peaches, Honey, Apricot, Lively, Liquid Sugar
Price: $12
Asti, Italy
Available at Wine.Com