Moscato D'Asti, 2018. Lunatico

Twenty years ago, Charles Lazzara was a college junior studying in Florence, Italy. His parents visited to celebrate his 21st birthday and took him to the best wineries in Chianti. You probably know the rest if the story.

It took him five years to get back there and visit the winery which impressed him the most, Poggerino. They had no importer in the United States. With no experience in the wine business, Lazzara told the owners that he could sell their wine in the US and offered them cash in advance. How could they say no?

Today, his company, Volio Imports, represents a virtual who's who in spectacular Italian wines. The name translates to "fly." His portfolio includes 265 Italian wines from producers in 16 of the 21 states in Italy. No other importer has close to the depth and breadth of Volio. In many cases, as with our selection, he even partnered with the estate, giving him a personal interest in the wine, which is of great benefit to the producer. He calls his winery Cascina San Lorenzo, named after his first-born son, Lorenzo.

Moscato is one of the most exciting wines in the world. Its low alcohol, slight sweetness, and effervescence are pure joy in the glass. It has been produced here for just over 100 years but has grown to over two million cases. The refreshing lightness and musk flavors are the main attractions here. With all comers from orange chicken to orange biscotti, it shines like no other.

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