Atilius launches a trio of sparkling wines

Hong Kong-based Milestone Beverages has launched a trio of sparkling wines – a brut, a sparkling rosé and a Moscato – under its Italian wine brand Atilius.

Atilius Festa is an 11% AVB charmat method spumante brut made from 60% Glera, 20% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Grigio. Milestone Beverages’ founder, Joe Milner, describes the fizz as “refreshing and pleasantly fruity” with aromas of acacia flowers, bread crust and green apple.

Milner says the sparkler has “fine and persistent perlage” and a “zesty finish”, making it a good pairing for a Caprese salad, fresh melon or apple pie. Atilius Bella, meanwhile, is a 9.5% ABV sparkling rosé made from 50% Merlot, 30% Pinot Noir and 20% Glera.

Milestone Beverages founder, Joe Milner

Dry in style, Milner describes the delicate pink as “a versatile wine with cherry, strawberry, red apple and floral notes rounded out by a fresh mineral quality” that makes it pair well with Asian dishes, sushi and smoked salmon.

Completing the trio is Atilius D’Oro, a 6.5% ABV Moscato designed to be enjoyed either on its own as an apéritif with cured meats or with desserts like fruit salad.

“Its low alcohol, notes of orange blossom, stone fruit and honeysuckle, and aromatic fragrance make for an extremely refreshing and easy to drink sip,” says Milner.

Milestone Beverages created Atilius three years ago, launching with a Tuscan Chardonnay, Prestigio Chianti Riserva DOCG and Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG.

Atilius has gone on to become one of the top-selling Italian wine brands in Hong Kong. The wines are available in all key markets of Asia Pacific, including Korea, China, the Philippines and Taiwan. It also recently went on sale in Australia.

When launching Atilius, Milner wanted to create an Italian wine brand that catered to all types of palate and drinking occasion, and captured “the Italian spirit, their passion for food and wine, fine style and unrestrained hospitality”.

Founded in 2015 by Joe Milner, Milestone Beverages is a Hong-Kong based drinks brand builder focused on incubation, innovation and insights.