Brachetto, A sweet and Ancient tale.

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Bracchetto Wine: A Sweet and Ancient Story

Have you ever heard of bracchetto wine? It is a red Italian wine that is produced in the Piedmont region, especially around Acqui Terme and Strevi. It is made from the bracchetto grape, a variety that is believed to be native to Piedmont, but some experts think it might have French origins. ¹²

Bracchetto wine has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the Roman times. According to legend, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony gave bracchetto wine to Cleopatra as a gift. The wine was called vinum acquense, which means “wine of the Acqui”. It was said to have sweet flavors and high aromatics, and to have the power to unleash the passions of its lovers³

Bracchetto wine is also known for its sparkling quality. In fact, it is one of the few wines in Italy that can be labeled as frizzante or spumante (fully sparkling). The sparkling version of bracchetto wine is similar to Lambrusco and Moscato d’Asti, but with more complexity and elegance. It has floral and fruity notes, such as strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and peaches¹²

Bracchetto wine is classified as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) since 1996 and previously as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) since 1969. This means that it has strict rules on how it can be made, where it can come from, and what it can contain. For example, bracchetto wine must be made from 100% bracchetto grapes that were harvested at no more than 8 tonnes/hectare. It must also have an alcohol level of at least 5% for frizzante and 6% for spumante¹

Bracchetto d’Acqui wine is a delicious and versatile drink that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with various dishes. Some suggestions are cheese platters, salads, desserts, seafood, poultry, pork dishes, or spicy foods. Bracchetto wine can also be used as an ingredient in cocktails or mocktails. It has a light ruby colour a fine perlage and taste that is distinctly floral and light, the aftertaste that lingers is that of almonds.

Acqui DOCG

Acqui DOCG summer aperitivo

Brachetto the grape today is also offered in a dry format. Gone is the sweetness, the alcohol content is higher and the result? Is a beautiful elegant a light rose cipriano colour with a beautiful perlage. The taste is still floral, aromatic and elegant without the sweetness. It pairs with light summer food or along as a perfect Aperitivo, more elegant and refined than the ever popular Prosecco.

Passito, after dinner

At the other end of the spectrum Bracchetto is also late harvested to produce passito. In fact as a cousin to Moscato it was originally left on the vines longer, then taken into large trays to mature and sweeten left in open air fro some weeks. This process is called “appassimento”.

There are different way to effect his process but here in Piemonte it is usually not on the vine but on large grates left in a covered but open environment over weeks (another way is to use thermoregulated rooms with fans) The effect of this was that the fruit would dry lowering the water content and increasing sugar concentration.A

After a few weeks, the grapes are then processed and vinified into wine and left to mature, some are aged for additional complexity.

The passito is a sweet after diiner wine that is both aromatic, fruity while full bodied and saatisfying. It is not heavy like port and maintains a lightness and floral notes.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post on the variety from just one humble bracchetto grape!