The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Piedmont

DOCStill huntingModerate

Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco DOC

A sweet, aromatic, lightly sparkling red from Malvasia di Schierano, a rare red malvasia grown in a few villages north of Asti. Pale ruby or deep rosé, with strawberry, rose petal, sage and a musky floral lift, sweet and fizzy at around 5 to 6 percent alcohol. Lighter and more delicate than Casorzo's, it's the traditional match for hazelnut cake and fresh fruit. Bava's Rosetta is the one that reaches the US and it's a charming aperitivo or dessert wine when served cold.

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Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
Bava
Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco Rosetta
Strawberry, rose and sage, low alcohol, frothy; the easy-to-find one and a good introduction to the grape.
$15 to $20Wine-Searcher
Cascina Gilli
Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco
From the village's own top estate, a purer, more floral version; small US presence via boutique importers.
$18 to $24Wine-Searcher
Marchesi di Barolo
Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco
A big Barolo house's version, well made and distributed through their US network.
$16 to $22Wine-Searcher