April Sweet Club: Iowa

Sweet Wine Clubsaracco-moscato-bottlePaolo Saracco
Moscato D’Asti DOCG
Piedmont, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Moscato d’Asti is an indigenous aromatic wine characterized by orange, peach and lime notes, with a sweet taste rich in minerals. The color is straw-yellow with greenish hues, fine perlage and slow fermentation index. The nose has intense orange blossom, peach and thyme (the main aromas found in the grapes). On the palate, the wine is intense, elegant and lingering. The sweet sensations are well balanced with a pleasant acidity and fruity aromas of typical Muscat grapes.

Variety: Moscato Bianco Canelli
Vineyards
: Located in Municipality of Castiglione Tinella, Santo Stefano Belbo, Castagnole Lanze and Calosso.
Pairs well with: Ideal with pastries, cakes, fruit tarts, ice cream, biscuits. Also delicious with cheeses such as gorgonzola and in cocktails.

WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING RECOMMENDATION: Try this wine with a gorgonzola. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

VINIFICATION:
After harvesting, the bunches are gently pressed to extract the most flavourful juice from the outermost part of the grapes. The must is kept in stainless steel containers at -3°C, where it can be kept for months. When there is market demand, it is then transferred into autoclaves for temperature-controlled fermentation, micro-filtered for purity and then bottled to keep the freshness and flavors intact.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Castiglione Tinella, located the heart of the Moscato d’Asti, Italy.  Since the early 1900s, the Saracco family has produced this aromatic wine in the area and cultivating their own vineyards, which is an important part of the process, creating a link with the ideal terrain for growing Moscato grapes. In 2021, WineStyles and Cheese Journey’s stayed on this property when traveling with our guests to this region. Learn more here.

Information & Photos © Paolo Saracco – All Rights Reserved.


Stemmari-Moscato-bottleStemmari
Moscato
Terre Siciliane IGT
Sicily, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Vibrant, light yellow in color with a nose that has typical Moscato perfumes of while flowers with a smooth citrus note. Every sip conveys extreme fruitiness balanced by a pleasant crispness.

An indigenous varietal of Sicily, Moscato is prized worldwide for its enhanced aromatic bouquet. Its cultivation dates back to ancient times, when Greeks and Romans dominated the island.

Varietal: Moscato
Appellation: Terre Siciliane IGT
Analysis:
8.5% alcohol / volume
Pairs well with: Try it as a surprising aperitif and during your social gatherings. Perfect with Asian cuisine and with sour-sweet salads.
Accolades:

  • STEMMARI Moscato Giallo 13 – 90 pts – Ultimate Wine Challenge – 2014
  • STEMMARI Moscato Giallo 12 – 86 pts – Wine Enthusiast – 2014
  • STEMMARI Moscato Giallo 12 – Silver – Mundus Vini – 2013

WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING RECOMMENDATION: Try this cheese with a fresh ricotta. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

VINIFICATION:
The entire wine making process – from cold maceration with oxygen reduction to temperature controlled fermentation – is carefully managed as to allow the natural development and expression of the rich fragrances typical of this varietals.

PRODUCTION AREA:
Acate, in the province of Ragusa. This varietal perfectly adapts to the typically sandy terrain and seasonal drought of Sicily. Grown with the “Espalier” system, with an average density of planting of 4500 plants per acre. Sustainably farmed.

ABOUT THE WINERY: STEMMARI
In homage to Sicilian tradition and with great respect towards the natural environment, the winery has been built following the traditional Sicilian rural building with courtyard known as the “baglio”. Here tradition meets advanced technology resulting in both top quality and ancient flavors. The result of this mix of new technology in wine making together with old architectural traditions is enchanting. Learn more here.

Information & Photos © Stemmari – All Rights Reserved.


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April Sweet Club Iowa

Sweet Wine ClubBellafina_Pink Moscato_Bottle ImageBellafina
Pink Moscato Rosa
Delle Venezie IGT, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Bellafina’s Pink Moscato is pale pink in color. It highlights notes of melon, peach and red berries, with a bouquet that is typical of the Moscato grape. The wine is sweet and aromatic.

Analysis: 8.0% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Moscato Rosa
Residual Sugar: 75.0 g/L
Total Acidity: 5.8 g/L
Appellation: Delle Venezie IGT
Area of Production/Origin: Veneto Region and Friuli Venezia Giulia Region
Harvest: First half of September
Serving Suggestion: Serve at 45ºF-50ºF
Food Pairing: Delicious by itself or with a variety of antipasti, soft cheeses, and desserts with berries and cream – such as pastries and cakes

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with a creamy cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

VINIFICATION:
The vinification of rose wines is characterized by a short and cold maceration. The juice is then removed from the skins where it has picked up pale and delicate red hue without extracting too much tannin and retaining the natural freshness and aromatic complexity of the wine. Fermentation takes place at the controlled temperature of 64ºF. After a period of storage, a careful coupage follows to obtain the Moscato Rosé Frizzante cuvée. The base-wine is transferred to tanks where exact amounts of must and selected yeasts are added to obtain the desired levels of pressure, alcohol and residual sugar (Martinotti/Charmat method). This is followed by cold stabilization.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Bellafina comes from the union of two Italian words – “bella” meaning “beautiful” and “fina” meaning “fine” or “delicate”. Their wines are a perfect reflection of the Italian lifestyle; lightly sparkling and easy drinking, making for the perfect pairing to any cuisine. Bellafina has been bottled by Casa Vinicola Botter since 1928. Today, the Botter family is managed by the family’s third generation. They continue to produce wines under environmentally friendly policies and with innovative production techniques, specializing in wines from Veneto.


ercole-moscato-bottle-150Ercole
Moscato d’Asti DOCG
Piedmont, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Ercole (pronounced AIR-KOH-LAY) means “Hercules” in Italian. Crafted in a fun, juicy, mouthwatering style in northern Italy, this white Moscato wine is aromatic and floral. There are earthy notes of honey and stone, along with fruity layers of green apple, pear, pineapple and other tropical notes.

Analysis: 5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: Moscato, Muscat Blanc
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Allergens: Contains sulfates
Food Pairings: This Italian Moscato d’Asti would pair beautifully with an aperitif or fruity dessert

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with an aged cheese such as a cheddar or a gruyere. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Made by The Piedmont Guy, Ercole is their line of everyday wines that honor the work of the Italian wine growers. Made possible by the generations-old cooperative of local growers in the Monferrato area, Ercole wines are produced with sustainably farmed fruit to reflect the authenticity and beauty of their origins. The cooperative behind Ercole works mainly with old vines ranging from 30-50 years old; all of which adhere to the European Union rule for sustainable farming. None of these growers use systemic treatments or chemicals; and both vinification and bottling are certified vegan. Learn more here.


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September Sweet Club Iowa

 

Sweet Wine ClubLuca_Bosio_Dark_Red_Semi_Sweet_bottle_webLuca Bosio Vineyards
Dark Red Semi Sweet
Piedmont, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Deep red in color, this wine is full of red fruit aromas with notes of wild berries lifted by its crisp acidity. These sweet aromas of ripe red fruits showcase the authenticity of the Brachetto grape. The Dark Red Semi Sweet wine is made with 100% natural fruit and gluten free.

Analysis: 5% alcohol / volume
Varietal:
100% Brachetto
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Pairing: Serve slightly chilled on its own or with antipastos, prosciutto, fish and white meats.

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section also pair well with an herbal cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

WINEMAKER NOTES:
“Basic Brachetto is playfully fizzy with two atmospheres of pressure and is known for having low alcohol at 5.5%, a natural range of sweetness. After fermentation, the residual sugar remains relatively high, making the wines sweeter than dry wines. Because the extra sugar stops fermentation early, non-fortified sweet reds tend to be lower in alcohol than dry wines.” – Luca Bosio Vineyards


Luca_Bosio_Moscato_dAsti_bottle_webLuca Bosio Vineyards
Moscato d’Asti DOCG
Piedmont, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Straw yellow in color, the Moscato d’Asti DOCG is sweet and smooth with notes of fruit and flower on the palate.

Analysis: 5.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Moscato
RS: 130 g/L
Total SO₂: 170 mg/l
Cultivation Area: Santo Stefano Belbo
Vineyard Altitude: 200/300m above sea level
Training System: Guyot
Soil: Clayey-Calcerous soil
Aging: 2 months on its own yeast

Fermentation: 5 days in steel tanks at a low temperature (59° F)
Vinification: Without skins
Pairing: Enjoy as an aperitif or at the end of a meal with fruits, aged cheeses or hazelnut cake.

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with an aged cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Located in the center of the Langhe region of Piedmont, Bosio Family Estates was established in 1967 by farmers Egidio and Angela. After being past down through three generations, and with tremendous success, innovation, and support from the family, the company has now taken the name Luca Bosio Vineyards.
Learn more here.


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