Bricco Riella Moscato d'Asti

Bricco Riella Moscato d'Asti is a lightly sparkling, semi-sweet Italian wine made from 100% Moscato Bianco grapes at 5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. Produced by Cascina Pian D'Or in Piedmont, this expression earned a Silver medal at the 2023 Sakura Awards and a Bronze at the 2020 International Wine & Spirit Competition, signaling consistent quality across vintages.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5%  |  Origin: Piedmont, Italy  |  Style: Frizzante (Lightly Sparkling, Semi-Sweet)  |  Producer: Cascina Pian D'Or

Production & Heritage

Cascina Pian D'Or produces Bricco Riella from hand-harvested Moscato Bianco grapes in Piedmont's renowned Moscato d'Asti DOCG zone. After immediate soft pressing, the must is cooled to 0°C to prevent any unwanted fermentation, then fermented with selected yeasts in pressurized, temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Fermentation is halted at precisely 4.5–5% alcohol by dropping the temperature to –3°C, followed by microfiltration that sterilizes and removes residual yeast — a meticulous process that preserves the wine's natural residual sugar, delicate effervescence, and aromatic purity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with jasmine and white flowers before giving way to ripe white peach and fresh mint. Beneath those primary aromatics, herbal and almost menthol-like notes add an intriguing layer of complexity.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is pleasantly sweet with apricot and melon flavors arriving at mid-palate. Lychee and mandarin orange develop as the wine opens, while a persistent, fine mousse carries the fruit forward. Honey and citrus accents round out the profile, keeping the sweetness focused rather than cloying.

Finish: The finish is medium in length, marked by a bright pop of acidity that lifts and refreshes the palate. Lingering mineral notes and a subtle musk character — typical of high-quality Moscato Bianco — stay present through the close.

How to Drink Bricco Riella

Serve well chilled, between 6–8°C (43–46°F), in a tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the floral aromatics. This wine is at its best enjoyed on its own as an aperitif or alongside dessert. A Bellini works beautifully here, as the peach and apricot notes in Bricco Riella echo the cocktail's classic white peach purée. A Moscato Spritz — combining the wine with a splash of soda water and a lemon twist — makes a low-ABV summer refresher that highlights the wine's natural effervescence. For a playful dessert pairing, use it in a Moscato Float poured over lemon sorbet, where the wine's acidity and sweetness play off the frozen citrus.

Best For

• Introducing wine newcomers to Italian sparkling wines at a gentle 5% ABV
• Pairing with a fruit-based dessert course at a dinner party
• Warm-weather afternoon sipping on a patio or terrace
• Gifting someone who appreciates aromatic, lower-alcohol wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bricco Riella taste like? Bricco Riella delivers ripe peach, apricot, and honey sweetness balanced by bright acidity and a persistent fine mousse. Floral jasmine and lychee notes give it an aromatic, refreshing character that finishes clean rather than heavy.

How does Bricco Riella compare to Paolo Saracco Moscato d'Asti? Paolo Saracco is widely regarded as a benchmark producer for Moscato d'Asti, often praised for exceptional precision and minerality. Bricco Riella shares the DOCG appellation and varietal but tends toward a more intensely floral, herbal profile, with its cryo-stopped fermentation method yielding a distinctly persistent mousse.

Is Bricco Riella good for beginners? Its low 5% ABV, gentle sweetness, and approachable fruit-forward character make it one of the most beginner-friendly Italian wines available. The natural effervescence and bright acidity prevent the sweetness from becoming overwhelming.

Where is Bricco Riella made? Bricco Riella is produced by Cascina Pian D'Or in Piedmont, northwestern Italy, within the Moscato d'Asti DOCG — a designated zone exclusively for lightly sparkling Moscato Bianco wines grown in the hills of Asti, Alessandria, and Cuneo.

What foods pair well with Bricco Riella? Fresh fruit tarts complement the wine's peach and apricot notes. Panna cotta or crème brûlée echo its honeyed sweetness without overpowering the delicate mousse. Aged Gorgonzola creates a classic sweet-and-savory Italian contrast. Almond biscotti bridge nicely with the wine's floral aromatics. Spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes benefit from the low alcohol and residual sugar, which temper heat on the palate.

What sizes does Bricco Riella come in? Bricco Riella Moscato d'Asti is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Bricco Riella worth the price? Bricco Riella sits in the entry-to-mid-level tier for Moscato d'Asti DOCG wines, and its Sakura Awards Silver medal and IWSC Bronze medal suggest quality that competes well above its price point within the category.

Why Bricco Riella?

What separates Bricco Riella from the crowded Moscato d'Asti field is Cascina Pian D'Or's exacting temperature-controlled fermentation process — halting at –3°C followed by microfiltration — which results in an unusually clean, pure expression of Moscato Bianco with a persistent, fine-beaded mousse. International recognition from both the Sakura Awards and the IWSC confirms this isn't just a pleasant sipper but a genuinely well-made wine with consistent quality. At only 5% ABV, it packs remarkable aromatic intensity — jasmine, peach, menthol, and mineral — into a format that welcomes long, leisurely drinking. For anyone seeking a Moscato d'Asti that balances sweetness, acidity, and textural finesse without relying on residual sugar alone, Bricco Riella delivers a compelling argument.