Canelli officially becomes a DOCG as the European Commission regulation (2023/1327) officially deems “Canelli,” the cradle of Moscato d’Asti, a region among the protected designations of origin that has been published in the European Union’s Official Journal.
The recognition takes in grapes from vineyards composed exclusively of the Moscato bianco variety from 17 municipalities around the Canelli subzone, a crossing point between the Langhe and Monferrato.
The Accomplishment of Canelli
For the vice-president of the Asti DOCG Consortium, Flavio Giacomo Scagliola, this is an important moment. “This is a particularly significant recognition for Canelli, one of the flagships of Piedmont’s quality viticulture and in particular of Moscato d’Asti DOCG,” he remarked. “It is a fundamental step for the socio-economic growth of an area increasingly devoted to wine tourism. Now the process involves the assignment of the protection body, which will soon see the Consortium of Asti protecting not only Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti, but also Canelli.”
The Birthplace of Asti’s Sparkling Wine
An area with as yet unexpressed potential, the recognized DOCG now counts on a production of nearly one million bottles. It was precisely in Canelli that the classic method sparkling wine was born in 1865 under the watchful eye of Carlo Gancia, the forerunner of Asti spumante using 100% Moscato grapes. Aromatic and sweet, with a slight overpressure and a low alcohol content, Canelli DOCG will be put on the market as Riserva with a minimum of 30 months of aging and refinement.