Celebration and sparkling wine go hand in hand, and while I don't generally consume much wine, I almost always partake in a little bubbly when the clock strikes twelve on December 31. This year is no different, but instead of consuming something brand new that I have never tasted before, I decided to go for something tried and true. My choice? Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, a sweet, widely distributed sparkling wine.
 
Basic Characteristics of This Wine:
 
Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante pours to a yellowish color, similar to white wine. The body of this sparkling wine is bubbly and it even produces a frothy head of foam at first, which eventually subsides. The nose of Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is oaky with a touch of fruit.
 
Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is a sweeter sparkling wine with a taste that combines apple, pear, grape, and a touch of honey. This sparkling wine is generally light in body, but it does have a higher residual sugar level, making it seem a little heavier than reality dictates. The aftertaste of Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is one of light pear and sugar.
 
Made from Moscato grapes, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante has 80 calories in a four- ounce serving. There is no protein or fat and only 1.6 grams of carbs in this standard four ounce serving. The alcohol content of this sparkling wine is 7.5 percent by volume.
 
Final Thoughts:
 
Produced in the Piedmont region of Italy, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is one of the more affordable Italian wines and also one of the more popular wines found in beverage and grocery stores across the United States. Popular among those who do not normally drink wine, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante makes a great choice when you want something sweet and/or something for celebratory purposes and want a sparkling wine that most everyone will find agreeable.
 
Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante has been around for a while and it ranks among the first sparkling wines I ever tried. Many mistakenly refer to Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante as champagne due to its bubbly nature but one has to remember that the only wine products that can be officially called champagne are those produced in the Champagne region of France. Other products- even those that taste similar to a French Champagne- are officially classified as sparkling wine and Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is one of the better- known wines in its class, with a taste that makes it suitable for celebrations; for drinking with certain sweet foods, fruits, or salads; or for sipping and enjoying on a warm summer day.
 
The main reason for Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante's popularity with the public is its light, yet sweet taste and its lack of much acidity. Medium dry and extra dry sparkling wines are often quite acidic and they are sometimes quite harsh in the finish. Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is smoother than the others, thanks to its lowered acid level and its reduced alcohol level. At 7.5 percent alcohol by volume, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is only slightly stronger than most beer. There is a very slight bite in the finish to remind you that this is an alcoholic beverage. But this bite fades quickly, leaving a sweet aftertaste behind and a sweet, fruity coating on the lips.  
 
One other nice quality of Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is its versatility. Most everyone who purchases this sparkling wine buys it for a birthday party, wedding, anniversary, or some other event of celebration and most people drink it straight- up, poured right from the bottle. However, due to its sweetness and relative lightness when compared to other wine, it is one of the few wine products that can be used to make mixed drinks. I know some who combine this sparkling wine with orange juice and I have also seen it used as one of the ingredients in a wine fruit punch that includes dry vermouth, oranges, and other ingredients. The bubbly body of Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante eliminates the need for club soda in your drink. And the sweet, fruity flavor is right at home combined with other sweet ingredients.
 
Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is packaged in a dark green bottle and it utilizes a standard cork- not the plastic cork found in many of the cheaper sparkling wines. One disadvantage of the type of cork found on a bottle of Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is that the cork quickly expands when popped, making it difficult if not impossible to re- cork the bottle for storage. Most people generally do not find this a problem, because they intend to consume the full bottle once opened. But if you do want to store your leftover Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, you will need to find another way to re- seal the bottle.
 
Overall, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante is a tasty sparkling wine that sweet, but not too sweet and light, but not too light. The flavors of fruit and sugar make it a sure hit with most consumers and it ranks among the few sweet, sparkling wines that I will consider drinking when the rare desire for sparkling wine hits. It is slightly more expensive (Sells for about $11 per 750 ml bottle) than other sparkling spumante wines, but Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante offers a better taste than the less expensive brands and it makes a good choice for those who do not normally like wine but want something bubbly to enjoy during a celebration or special event.  

Recommended: Yes

Winery Name: Martini & Rossi
Varietal: Sparkling Wine
Designation: Martini & Rossi Asti Spumonte
Country: Italy
County or Appellation: Italy
Price: 11
Wine Rating Scale: Better than most