Panna Cotta & Moscato d'Asti

This traditional dessert of Italian cuisine originates from Piedmont, but its popularity has spread throughout Italy and beyond. Panna cotta means ‘cooked cream’: it is a mixture of cream, milk and sugar to which gelatine is added after boiling to give it a gelatinous consistency.

Panna cotta comes in a variety of flavours: chocolate, coffee, citrus and, of course, red berries. A topping is added depending on the flavour: compote, jam or red berry coulis, but also chocolate or melted caramel, honey. A touch of spice or herb, such as cinnamon or mint, is added to create a balance of flavours.

The idea is also to mix textures and flavours, sometimes with a touch of crunch: almonds and pistachios or even whole berries. Let your creativity run wild!

For this food/wine pairing, we were particularly taken with the red fruit panna cotta. It is THE gourmet dessert to end an Italian meal on a light note. An easy dessert to make and so delicious! A real treat accompanied by a Moscato d'Asti, a light Italian sparkling white wine (5 or 6 degrees of alcohol). Very fresh, it is slightly sweet.

From the Piedmont region - note in passing that this is the same region of origin as panna cotta - Moscato has a DOCG designation and is appreciated by the most gourmet of palates. It should not be confused with Asti spumante Italia, which is a sparkling wine that undergoes a ‘prise de mousse’, while Moscato is slightly sparkling. Beneath its straw-yellow colour, the fine bubbles of Moscato dance, releasing pronounced fruity aromas, including those of Muscat, the grape variety from which it takes its name.