Holiday in a glass

The holidays are here and if you're anything like me, you've got a calendar full of entertaining and parties and special dinners to host, but a budget that makes trips to the grocery and wine shop a challenge. The good news is holiday cheer doesn’t have to break the bank! 

Rivata Moscato d’Asti is a slightly sweet, lightly sparkling (“frizzante”) white wine traditional to the Piedmont region of Italy and is a bargain at about $9 a bottle. Don’t let the low price fool you. This wine has a DOCG classification, which is the highest level of quality wine designation in Italy, and it certainly lives up to the rating.

Upon opening, this Moscato gives sweet aromas of citrus and honey. In the glass, the straw-colored wine is spritzy and alive and hits your palate with sweet and slightly acidic flavors of orange peel and honeysuckle. It’s like holiday in a glass and a fantastic alternative if you're not a fan of drier sparklers.

This is a great wine to bring to a party.  It pairs perfectly with salty snacks like chips and nuts or sweet and tangy cheeses like Wensleydale with cranberries on cornbread crackers. With dessert, its a great match for pumpkin pie, cheesecake, or crème brulee.

Whether you’re shopping for a holiday meal, picking up a bottle as a hostess gift or looking to fill your own glass with some cheer, a sweet and bubbly Moscato d’Asti is a great choice. Cheers!