photo via: ttps://astidocg.it
Fans of pink bubbly, this is for you! The EU has approved a new style of sparkling pink wine…Asti Rosato! These pink bubbles will be produced under the already-established Asti DOCG, and as appropriate for a DOCG-level wine, there are some rules!
For starters, there are two specific styles of Asti—Italy’s beloved, bright white, bubbly wine produced using Moscato grapes—that will be allowed to be produced as a rosato wine: Asti Rosato and Asti Metodo Classico Rosato. Both are fully sparkling (spumante/ minimum of 3 atm of pressure). However, there are a few minor differences between the two versions, and they are allowed (required) to be made using different production methods.
Note: Italy’s beloved, sweet-and-fizzy wine, Moscato d’Asti—also produced under the Asti DOCG—is not affected by this update.
- Standards for Asti Rosato include the following:
- Production rules: produced via second fermentation using the bulk/Charmat process (also known as the Martinotti process) or fermentation in autoclave; fermentation and aging must last at least one month (including bottle aging time)
- Appearance: pale pink color, lingering foam
- Sweetness: may be made in any sweetness level from pas dosé (no dosage) to sweet
- Bubbles: minimum of 3 atm of pressure
- Alcohol by volume: minimum 6%
- Note: this style of wine may also be labeled as Asti Rosé, Asti Spumante Rosato, or Asti Spumante Rosé
- Standards for Asti Metodo Classico Rosato include the following:
- Grape varieties: 70% to 90% Moscato Bianco, 10% to 30% Brachetto
- Appearance: pink color of varying intensity to pale garnet; fine, lingering foam
- Sweetness: may be made in any sweetness level from pas dosé (no dosage) to sweet
- Bubbles: minimum of 3 atm of pressure
- Alcohol by volume: minimum 6%
- Production rules: the second fermentation must occur in the bottle, followed by at least 9 months of aging (on the lees) in the same bottle; once bottle aging is complete, the wine must be disgorged
- Note: this style of wine may also be labeled as Asti Metodo Classico Rosé, Asti Spumante Metodo Classico Rosato, or Asti Spumante Metodo Classico Rosé
Welcome to the world, Asti Rosato DOCG! We can’t wait to try a bottle!
References/for more information:
- EU Journal regarding Asti DOCG published July 2026
- Asti DOCG Disciplinare updated 2026
- Consorzio dell’Asti DOCG
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org