The News
Consorzio Asti DOCG has officially added a rosé category to its production regulations following the completion of a bureaucratic process initiated in late 2023. The new product, which can be bottled 30 days after publication, is a blend of Moscato (70-90%) and Brachetto (10-30%) grapes. It will be available in all styles from sweet to extra brut, offering producers flexibility in residual sugar levels. The addition was celebrated at Vinitaly, with an initial production estimate of 5–10 million bottles.
The Takeaway
Wine Innovation: Asti DOCG is expanding its offerings by introducing a new rosé category that combines Moscato and Brachetto grapes, giving producers more creative freedom to tailor their products for different markets. This move highlights how traditional Italian wine regions are adapting to consumer preferences while maintaining heritage.
Market Flexibility: The new regulations allow Asti Rosé to be produced in various styles from sweet to extra brut, which means winemakers can adjust residual sugar levels based on regional demand and stylistic choices. This flexibility could help the product appeal to a broader audience, especially in markets where dry sparkling wines are trending.
Sustainability Move: The removal of the minimum bottle weight requirement is a notable step toward sustainability, showing that even traditional wine producers are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact without compromising quality or tradition. This change aligns with growing consumer demand for eco-conscious products.
Original Press Release
(Asti, March 24, 2026). Asti Rosé is now officially a reality. The bureaucratic process, launched at the end of 2023, has been completed with last night’s publication in the Official Gazette, which adds the rosé category to the Asti DOCG production regulations.
The new product (which may be bottled starting 30 days after publication) will be a blend composed of Moscato grapes intended for Asti DOCG (70% to 90%) and Brachetto grapes intended for Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG (10% to 30%). It may be offered in all styles, from sweet to extra brut, thus giving producers the flexibility to adjust residual sugar according to their stylistic choices and the needs of different markets potentially interested in this new category.
The inclusion of Asti Rosé in the production regulations represents an important recognition of the historical heritage and winemaking vocation of this territory, said Stefano Ricagno, President of the Consorzio Asti DOCG. This new type is unique within the Italian landscape: it is, in fact, a product that combines two different grape varieties, both aromatic. At Vinitaly we will symbolically toast this achievement for the first time; in the following months, producers who believe in the project and have invested in experimentation will develop production, initially estimated at between 5 and 10 million bottles, also depending on market response.
Among the approved changes to the regulations is the elimination of the minimum bottle weight—a sustainable choice that now allows wineries to adopt lighter solutions, reducing environmental impact. Finally, the requirement to display the wording “Asti” on corks has been abolished.
Source: BevNET