Asti (Asti spumante)

Piedmont DOCG from Moscato bianco

Asti (Asti spumante) is a sparkling wine of the Asti DOCG in Piedmont made from at least 97% Moscato bianco.1 The main type is made in pressure tanks by the Martinotti method; the rules allow sweetness from pas dosé to dolce and a separate metodo classico type.1

Grapes and origin

Asti is made from at least 97% Moscato bianco (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains); up to 3% may be other aromatic white varieties suited to Piedmont.1 The denomination is described on Asti DOCG.

How it is made

The standard Asti, or Asti spumante, is made by the autoclave method, also called Martinotti: the wine becomes sparkling in a closed pressure tank. The process lasts at least one month, bottle time included.1 See Asti method for the steps and tank method for the general technique.

The rules also define an Asti spumante metodo classico type, which requires fermentation in bottle and at least nine months on lees.1 This is the traditional method.

Alcohol and sweetness

The rules set two alcohol minimums: total alcohol at least 11.50% vol and developed (actual) alcohol at least 6.00% vol.1 Total alcohol counts the actual alcohol plus the alcohol the remaining sugar could still give. The gap between the two minimums is therefore room for unfermented grape sugar.

Sweetness may range "da pas dosé a dolce", from pas dosé to sweet.1 For the legal sugar bands see sweet sparkling and the sugar scale.

Asti and Moscato d'Asti

The same DOCG covers Moscato d'Asti, a sweet, lightly sparkling wine with lower pressure and lower alcohol.1

See also

AstiRegionsMoscato d'AstiStylesAsti methodMethodsMuscat Blanc à Petits GrainsGrapesTank methodMethodsSweet sparkling: demi-sec and douxStyles

Sources

  1. Regione Piemonte. Disciplinare di produzione DOCG Asti (2025-01)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19