Brachetto d'Acqui is a red sparkling Italian wine made from the Brachetto grape. It originates from the Piedmont region around the town of Acqui Terme and typically has a sweet profile with an alcohol content of at least 11.5%.
History
The exact origin of Brachetto is unknown, though it is considered an indigenous variety from Piedmont. Some 19th-century ampelographers suggested it might have French origins. The region has a long tradition of producing sweet, sparkling red wine. In Roman times, a wine known as vinum acquense was popular among patricians. Legend claims Julius Caesar and Mark Antony gifted several pumpkin bottles of this wine to Cleopatra.
How it is made
According to DOCG regulations, Brachetto d'Acqui must be produced exclusively from the Brachetto grape, with vineyard yields limited to 8 tons per hectare. The grape must reach sufficient ripeness with a sugar level between 21-22°Bx. The wine can be either still (though this production is decreasing) or, more commonly, sparkling with some sweetness. The minimum alcohol content is 11.5% for frizzante and 12% for spumante styles.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Бракетто д’Акви, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.