It has a cupola shape and is usually about 30cm high. It is made of a soft, not completely cooked pasta containing candies and dry grapes. It is served in slices, vertically cut, accompanied with sweet hot beverages or a sweet wine, such as spumante or moscato.
The most famous producer was Motta-Alemagna; at the beginning of 20th century, the name Motta was synonymous with panettone.
The production techniques have been modified in view of recent European regulations on food, as its traditional preparation requires that its pasta is not completely cooked and that its dry grapes are to ferment. The taste is therefore now different compared to the traditional panettone.