The official Asti DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is near the city of the same name, in the Alpine foothills of northwestern Italy.
Sparkling Asti wine comes in two forms: the fully sparkling Asti (once known as Asti Spumante) and Moscato d’Asti, which is just gently fizzy, or frizzante. Both are made from the Moscato Bianco grape, with rich flavors of apricot and peach. They are semi-sweet to sweet and low in alcohol – often between just 5 and 9 percent – because the wines’ production method halts fermentation before all the grapes’ natural sugars have been converted to alcohol.
Bubbly Asti is packaged in a Champagne-style bottle. The milder-mannered Moscato d’Asti is typically packaged like a regular table wine with standard cork, but it may surprise you with a small pop upon opening, so use care in removing the cork. Both wines are best served chilled, after a meal or with dessert.
Recommended food pairings
Cookies and light desserts – especially fruits and fresh salad, biscotti, raspberry desserts, lemon desserts
Serving temperature
45-50°
