Terroir
Running 60 km north-east to south-west and rising from 600 to 2000 feet (200-600m) above sea level, the hills of Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato form a natural amphitheatre between the Alps and the Ligurian Sea.
Here nearly 24,500 acres (9,900 ha) of Moscato Bianco soak up the sun by day and Alpine-cooled air by night, turning those diurnal swings into the peach, sage, and orange-blossom aromas that define the DOCGs of Asti and Moscato d’Asti.
The Three Building Blocks of Asti Terroir
Asti’s personality rests on three interlocking pillars—climate, geography, and soils.
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Climate — continental bite, Mediterranean caress. Alpine-cooled nights follow sun-drenched days, locking in acidity while amplifying Moscato Bianco’s intense perfume.
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Geography — UNESCO hills in 360° relief. A 60km (37 mile) ribbon of ridges that tilt mainly east, south, and west; the steepest sorì slopes carve out distinct crus.
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Soils — one ancient sea, two faces. Limestone dominates, ensuring acidity levels are high, but sandstone on the crests lifts perfume and freshness while lime-rich marl lower down adds body and sweetness.
Let’s dive into each pillar to learn more.
Climate: Where the Alps meet the Med
Mediterranean days, Alpine nights
Asti’s hills sit in the tug-of-war between the ice-cold Alps and the warm Ligurian Sea. Summer afternoons can push well past 86°F (30°C), yet after sunset Alpine air sweeps in and the thermometer may tumble by 30°F (15°C) or more. That wide diurnal swing locks in acidity in the grapes while protecting the fragile terpenes that give Moscato its peach-blossom perfume.
Fog and sea breezes as natural air-conditioning
In late evening, the Tanaro river and its tributaries create mist that settles in the valleys. By midday, a Ligurian sea breeze often travels inland 50km (31 miles), blowing off excess heat and humidity. Together, fog and breeze extend the ripening season and the breezes fend off mildew (Moscato is prone to it!) on the higher western ridges around the towns of Cassinasco and Mango.
Altitude draws the style line
Lower eastern slopes that are 650-1000 feet (200–300m) above sea level bask in extra warmth, creating sweeter grapes that are perfect for the richer Dolce-style bottlings. Climb 1500 feet (450m) above towards Santo Stefano Belbo and Castiglione Tinella and the cooler nights preserve more linalool—the lavender-and-lime compound that lifts classic Moscato d’Asti into airy, floral territory.
Geography: Gradient and exposure shape style
Exposure is everything
Growers seat Moscato Bianco on the warmest ridges that face east, south, and west—while leaving the north face to forest or hazelnut. Morning-sun builds aroma precursors; long afternoon light finishes sugar ripening.
Sorry, what is a sorì?
In the local Piedmontese dialect, sorì (or sorís in the plural) literally means a place exposed to the sun, are considered high-quality vineyards due to their favorable exposure. These are sun-trap terraces—slopes so steep (27–50% gradients, think black-diamond ski runs) that tractors can’t operate on them.
Everything is done by hand, costing three-to-five times more labour but rewarding growers with all-day sun, fast rain run-off, and constant breezes that keep mildew away. The best clusters are around Santo Stefano Belbo, Mango, Calosso, and Strevi; their stone-and-brick retaining walls and Canelli’s “Underground Cathedrals” earned UNESCO status in 2014.
What does it mean in the glass?
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Lower, warmer sorì: (820-1150 ft / 250–350 m) on marl build plush texture and peach-apricot richness—the backbone for Asti Dolce.
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Higher, breezier sorì: (1150 ft-1800 ft / 350–550 m) on sandstone preserve floral top-notes (sage, acacia, orange-blossom) and higher acidity, the stylistic hallmark of classic Moscato d’Asti
Soils: One ancient sea, two limestone faces
Asti’s twin soil families are both limestone-based, yet their sand-versus-silt textures push Moscato Bianco in opposite stylistic directions—from airy, perfume-laced Moscato d’Asti on sandstone to opulent Asti Dolce on the marl soils—giving producers an extraordinary palette to fine-tune sweetness, weight, and perfume.
Sandstone gives acid and perfume
Light, sandy, and fast-draining, these stone-rich ridges—found above 1150 ft (350m) around Cassinasco, Calosso and Mango—push vines to dig deep, yielding small berries packed with terpenes (intense aroma compounds). The result is racy acidity and head-turning perfume (sage, lime blossom), the calling card of classic Moscato d’Asti.
Marl brings weight and fruit
Lower slopes nearer Canelli and Nizza at 820–1150 ft (250–350m) rest on silty marls loaded with limestone. These soils hold moisture, slow ripening, and add mid-palate weight, giving plush fruit that underpins the richer Dolce and Extra-Dry styles of Asti.
Explore their science and art, with the producers themselves
Terroir Fun Facts:
- Asti receives over 3700 hours of annual sunshine - that’s more than Los Angeles!
- Vineyards sit between 600 to 2000 feet (200-600m) above sea level in the foothills of the Alps.
- There are 24,500 acres (9900 ha) of Moscato Bianco grapes planted in Asti.
- Asti receives around 28 inches (700mm) of rainfall annually, mostly in the spring and fall.
- The steepest slopes in Asti have a 50% gradient - that’s like skiing a black diamond hill!