You Bet Your Sweet Asti

How fast can a Champagne cork fly? We learned the answer a few weeks ago: 40 km per hour. 

But not all wines have that much pop. Some are geared to a much lower speed. Take Moscato d'Asti. It's bubbly, like Champagne, but with less power.

The style is known as frizzante, which basically means semi-sparkling. You could also call it lightly sparkling or gently sparkling; it's simply far less intense than Champagne. It's more MINI Cooper than Mercedes-Benz.

GIF credit: GIPHY

Moscato d'Asti also tends to be relatively low in alcohol, about 5 percent. That makes it far closer to beer in terms of booze power rather than most wine, which tends to be above 12 percent.

GIF credit: GIPHY

And it is naturally sweet and quite versatile. You could chill a bottle, pop it open and sip with friends. Or, faced with a bowl of vanilla ice cream, pour some d'Asti on top for a sweet fizzy touch. Or use it for simple cocktails – top up some pineapple juice or a mix of lemonade, orange juice and cranberry juice.

Using fruits seems fitting given that the aroma of this wine often inspires descriptions like lychee, orange, peach and lemon as well as blossoms of fruit trees. Just sniffing a bottle or a glass can be aromatherapy for some people.

GIF credit: GIPHY

Here's a fun fact: Moscato d'Asti refers to the region of--no surprise--Asti! And Asti is the birthplace of an explorer named Umberto Cagni. In 1900, Cagni decided to "chill out" and join a team that took dogsleds across the Arctic ice on a mission to reach the North Pole. They didn't quite reach the end of the world but did make it further than any other explorers to that point.

That tale of cold regions might inspire us to celebrate with some equally chilly ice cream -- topped with sweet Moscato d'Asti.

Original by Jim Boyce, Grape Wall of China 葡萄围城

Now, are you looking for some Moscato with good value to bring home? Look no further – grab two frizzante wines for just ¥275 and you can get an Aussie Moscato for free! This special offer is valid until the end of this month. 

Tap the poster below to create a sparkling August. 

Meanwhile, we know you want to stay slim and fit especially in summer. So, we're offering sugar-free SKINNY B#TCH at ¥80 for any 5 cans plus another one for free. Try this lemon/peach-flavored vodka drink by simply tapping the picture below.