Tuesday September 14th, a custumary scene of harvest in the heart of the Italian region of Asti. Back from the steep slopes of the vineyards, where harvesting can only be manual, the trucks, full of grapes, pour their cargo directly into the presses. There, what a surprise: vehicules, machines, cellar, everything wears the stamp... Martini ! Well yes! Even if the extremely famous Italian brand of aperitives buys (sometimes even in Spain) the wines that will compose its vermouth, it produces by itself its entire range of sparkling wines. A discovery for the French who only know the Italian company through its aperitives. But the Turinese firm started producing spumante from its creation in 1863. In its country, the range is very wide and well-known. It consists in a Prosecco, an Asti, a Brut and a semi-dry rosé. 
In these conditions, the size of the cellar of Asti, modest on the whole, can be surprising. But Franco Brezza, the oenologist of the House, smiles at that question: “Indeed, we want to keep traditional methods despite the volumes we deal with: 10,000 tons of grapes per year, brought by 400 wine growers, working on a retainer. The trick is to refrigerate the must at 0°C after settling. So 7 hours pass by between the arrival of the grapes and the storage of the juices. This enables us to keep them as long as we want to, and to vinify without hurrying, all year long, fruity and fresh musts as if they came out of the press.”
The Astis are elaborated according to the modernized Martinotti-Charmat method. Musts undergo one and only fermentation, in close stainless steel vats, where they fulfil both their vinification and carbonation process. “Very fruity and low-alcohol products, the Spumante have a brilliant future in France, Luciano Boero, Master blender of the brand, predicts. They are affordable (about €8) and very festive, and can be simply drunk plain or in cocktails. An example? The Royal Martini: in a wine glass, pour 6 cl of Prosecco, 6 cl of Martini rosato, decorate with a slice of orange.” After Perla, released last year, the Prosecco arrives indeed in France. On the parallel, the brand also markets a new Vermouth for hype evenings: Martini Gold, in patnership with Dolce&Gabbana who designed the bottle and inspired the recipe, and with the actress Monica Bellucci as a muse.
Cantina Martini & Rossi
Via Vogliere, 8 - Santo Stefano Belbo
Tél. : +39 (0)1 41 84 11 11 http://osservatorio-martinierossi.it
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