Wines of Asti DOCG

Asti Spumante DOCG

Asti Spumante is the original Italian sparkling wine, first produced in 1865 and still made exclusively from Moscato Bianco. With intense aromatics, creamy bubbles, and a range of sweetness levels, it offers something for everyone. That’s right! Asti can be made from bone dry all the way through to the classic Dolce (sweet) style! Let’s dive in!

Asti Spumante Dolce

Aromas of orange blossom, acacia, ripe peach, honey, sage, and bergamot.

This is the classic style of Asti Spumante—vibrant, pleasantly sweet, and celebratory. It’s a natural match for fruit tarts, hazelnut cake, or creamy desserts like panna cotta and even salty foods like oysters, soft cheeses, and spicy dishes.

Behind the bubbles, this wine showcases expert winemaking: fermentation is arrested when alcohol reaches 7%, preserving natural sugars and aromatics. It’s typically made using the Martinotti method (in pressurized tanks), though some producers also use Metodo Classico. The pressure reaches 5–6 bar, offering persistent, creamy mousse. Sugar levels range from 75–100 g/L.

Asti Spumante Brut

Aromas of white flowers, citrus zest, crisp apple, and fresh herbs.

Brut Asti offers a totally different face of Moscato Bianco—one that’s bright, dry, and food-friendly. It pairs beautifully with sushi, herby vegetarian dishes, or even Middle Eastern mezze.

This style was approved only recently. The dry variant was introduced into the production regulations in 2017, reaching up to Extra Dry, and later extended it in 2020 to include the Brut / Pas Dosé. This was made possible by technical innovations that allow full fermentation of the must without losing aromatic intensity. Winemakers must carefully manage yeast contact, fermentation speed, and temperature to retain freshness while crafting a dry wine. These are mostly made using the Martinotti method, but several producers are also using the Metodo Classico. Sugar content is under 12 g/L, and alcohol content sits around 11%.

Other Styles of Asti

In addition to Dolce and Brut, Asti DOCG wines can be produced in a full range of sparkling styles:

These styles offer even more versatility—from aperitivo hour to main course pairing potential.

Moscato d’Asti DOCG

Aromas of lilac, jasmine, ripe apricot, orange blossom, sage, and mountain honey.

Gently sparkling (Frizzante) and naturally sweet, Moscato d’Asti is the more delicate sibling of Asti Spumante. It’s ideal with custard-based desserts, caramelized fruit, and even savory pairings like mild blue cheese or spicy Indian curries.

Made from a single fermentation that’s halted early (around 5–5.5% ABV), this wine captures the fresh fruit and floral beauty of Moscato Bianco. The gentle fizz (max 2 bar) is created in a pressurized tank (Martinotti method), preserving freshness and leaving 120–150 g/L of residual sugar. It's typically bottled early and meant to be enjoyed young—though some high-quality examples can age gracefully for several years, and that is why some Michelin Starred restaurants have now added aged examples on their wine lists.

Rarer Styles

While Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti dominate the region, a few lesser-known styles offer unique perspectives on this aromatic grape.

Metodo Classico Asti

Aromas of toasted brioche, white peach, wildflowers, and lime zest.

This traditional method version of Asti is perfect with savory dishes like white pizza with zucchini cream or nutty cheeses like Taleggio.

Made using the traditional method (Metodo Classico, aka bottle fermentation), these wines spend at least 12 months on lees, resulting in finer bubbles and a more structured, layered palate. While still aromatic, the extended lees contact brings bready and creamy notes that balance the grape’s natural fruitiness. Dosage levels range from Brut Nature to Dolce.

Vendemmia Tardiva (Late Harvest)

Aromas of dried apricot, candied citrus peel, honey, chamomile, and almond blossom.

Rich and unctuous, these are perfect with foie gras, fig-based desserts, or even aged blue cheese.

Produced from late-harvested Moscato Bianco grapes in warmer subzones like Acqui and Nizza, these wines concentrate sugars naturally on the vine. Fermentation is stopped earlier, resulting in a lusciously sweet, sometimes still wine with intense flavor depth. Rare and often hand-crafted, they reflect a unique terroir and historical tradition.

Asti Wine Facts

• The only permitted grape is Moscato Bianco, an aromatic variety prized for its floral and fruity profile.

• Asti DOCG covers 51 municipalities across the provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Alessandria in Piedmont.

• In 2022, production reached over 100 million bottles:

  • Around 66 million bottles of Asti Spumante

  • Around 35 million bottles of Moscato d’Asti

• 90% of production is exported, with the USA, UK, Germany, and Russia as top markets.

• The most traditional style is Asti Spumante Dolce, but the denomination now includes Pas Dosé, Brut, and Extra Dry styles too.

• The Martinotti (tank) method is the most common production method, but Metodo Classico styles are also permitted.

• Maximum permitted yield is 10 tonnes per hectare for both Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti.

• Moscato d’Asti has a maximum pressure of 2 bar, making it lightly fizzy (frizzante), not fully sparkling.