Moscadello di Montalcino is a white wine made in the famous Tuscan wine village of Montalcino. Although this hilltop village is best known for its Sangiovese-based Brunello wines, the commune's vineyards are also home to the Moscadello vine (the local form of white Muscat). The precise genetic identity of Moscadello remains unconfirmed – some authorities believe it to be Muscat of Alexandria, while the Moscadello di Montalcino DOC laws cite it as Moscato Bianco.
Montalcino's terroir has long been recognized as prime vineyard material. Brunello di Montalcino, along with Piedmont's famous Barolo, were the first two DOCGs created, in July 1980. The Moscadello di Montalcino DOC was created four years later to formally complement these robust, rich reds.
The Montalcino viticultural zone (which covers the eponymous village and its vineyards) can be divided roughly into two geological sectors. In the south and west the low-lying land tends to have a higher clay content, being closer to the Spagnola, Dragone and Carmigliano rivers. This results in a warmer mesoclimate and a riper wine style, assuming the vignerons allow the Moscadello grapes to remain on the vine until full maturity. In the north and east, the topography and soil makeup are different; the altitude increases from 350–600ft to 600–2000ft and the marl- and schist-based Galestro soils are drier and cooler, resulting in a fresher, crisper wine style.
While Montalcino lacks its own version of Tuscany's luscious, golden vin santo wines, it makes up for this with sweet, grape-scented, Moscadello di Montalcino, which comes in tranquillo (still), frizzante (sparkling) and late-harvest Vendemmia Tardiva forms.
