If you want a sweet sparkler with lots of fruit, than Asti is a must try.  Hailing from the Piedmont region, Cinzano Asti comes from one of the top producing regions in the world.  Piedmont is so good for Asti and the varietal that make it (Moscato) that it has it’s own distinction from the Italian Government (DOCG*).  The best part about Asti is the price point, where great examples can be found for between $10-$20.

Cinzano is a well-known producer with a wide distribution that you can find almost anywhere.  Is it worth kicking off the New Year with Cinzano Asti?

[Disclosure: Cinzano sent me of this incredibly cool cocktail kit with some bottles of their wine.  We’ll be turning these samples into cocktails soon, so stay tuned!]

Sight:  A beautiful straw gold with tons of tiny little bubbles.  A lot of fizz is pleasant at each pour.

Smell:  The nose is a beautiful mix of honey, peaches, and floral notes.  The floral and stone fruit notes are wonderfully ripe, and the aroma is almost candy like.

Sip:  The profile is bright and sweet, with lots of little effervescent bubbles.  Peaches and nectarines mix with honey and notes of honeysuckle for an amazing fruit forward flavor.   Little bits of lemon and candy like sweetness get into the act.

Savor:  The ending picks up a limoncello sort of note and combines it with floral elements and peaches.

Cinzano Asti is well put together, and filled with delicious stone fruit flavors. The sweetness is forward but matches it with the acidity to balance it out.  Sweet wine lovers are going to want to ring in the New Year with Cinzano Asti.  It’s fresh, fruit, sweet, and delicious.

Verdict: Peach, Sweet, Floral, Honey
Rating: 91
Price: $12 SRP [This bottle was received as a sample]
Piedmont, Italy DOCG

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*This stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita – which guarantees wines from the region are made to a specific standard.