08 May Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Moscato Day and the 2020 Centorri Moscato di Pavia
Cheap, cheerful, low alcohol, slightly sweet, who doesn’t love a well-made Moscato?!? With Moscato Day, as well as Mother’s Day, on May 9th, we celebrate with the 2020 Centorri Moscato di Pavia, the Please The Palate pick of the week.
Moscato Bianco, born in the Italian region of Piedmont, comes from the Muscat grape. Muscat is the name of a grape family and there are many members of the family found in Italy, Alsace, Spain, Austria, and Greece. Moscato Bianco from Italy is the oldest member of the Muscat family, as well as one of the oldest grape varieties in the world.
Moscato from Italy is most famously made in Asti in Piemonte where it is known as Asti Dolce, Asti Secco and Moscato d’Asti. But Moscato is grown not only in Piemonte but in other regions of Italy. The 2020 Centorri Moscato di Pavia comes from the Province of Pavia in the Lombardy region, located next door to Piemonte. Lombardy is most famous for the high-quality sparkling wine of Franciacorta, as well as the sparkling wine of Oltrepo Pavese, located on the southern side of the Po River.
Oltrepo Pavese is a DOCG within the Province of Pavia. But wines produced in the province that are not Oltrepo Pavese are classified as Provincia di Pavia IGT. Within the Provincia di Pavia IGT, the wines can be still, sweet, or sparkling and can be made with any of the grape varieties allowed in the region. One of the grape varieties in Pavia is Moscato and Centorri is a producer of Moscato di Pavia.
Centorri refers to the famous “hundred towers” (cento torri) once found across the city of Pavia, a city known for its rich history of Renaissance architecture and art. Centorri is made by the Brangero family, also known as the “Women of Moscato.” Three generations the women of the Brangero family have made Moscato in the small town of Castilgione Tinella, located in southern Piedmont. In 1996, third generation Eleonora Brangero and her husband Matteo Soria purchased 10 acres of Moscato vineyards in Pavia, just across the border from Piedmont in the region of Lombardy. The new property was named Eleanor Estate after Brangero and for several years they sold their grapes to other local producers. In 2009 they started making their own wine under the direction of Brangero and today they own 84 acres of Moscato vineyards.
The Centorri Moscato is made from 100% Moscato Bianco grapes grown in Pavia. The grapes are picked and taken to the family’s estate in Castiglione Tinella in Piedmont for vinification. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. The wine is bottled at an alcohol level of 6% and 120 g/L of residual sugar. The bottle closure is a screwcap.
The 2020 Centorri Moscato di Pavia IGT is a beautifully aromatic wine with notes of fresh flowers, white peaches, and apricots. The sweetness of the wine is tempered by the acidity and the wine finishes with flavors of peaches and apricots. Light, fresh, easy-drinking, and best of all, the wine retails for only $10. It is perfect for brunch, Mother’s Day, an aperitif before a meal, or with spicy food or with cheese. This wine will please anyone! Cheers to Moscato Day!