Highest concentration of Italian DOC and DOCG

In quantitative terms the production of wine in Astesana is important: with over 100 million bottles a year, represents 30% of wines with denomination of origin of Piedmont. So is the most prolific among the 8 geographic areas that have made the history of Piedmont (Alto Monferrato, Monferrato, Colli Tortonesi, Langhe, Roero, Canavese and Carema, Gattinara Ghemme and other North Nebbiolo).

But the feature of these hills of the wine is the excellent quality of products, covering the full range of gastronomic service: from brut sparkling to dry white wines,from soft reds to structured types, from aromatic whites and reds, including the passito type, to spirits (especially grappa). An old tradition in wine production has also led to the invention in Astesana of some special wines: it was born in Asti the Barolo Chinato (wine flavored with added alcohol), technique now used for Barbera wine.

Canelli is the town where two hundred years ago the Italian sparkling wine was invented, and especially the aromatic sparkling Asti (which still is the leader of Italian wines in the world with approximately 100 million bottles a year). Among the dry sparkling wines should be mentioned the new "Alta Langa" doc, produced in the vineyards of Langa Astigiana, all planted over 500 meters.

The most important Astesana wine (32 million bottles in 2006) is Barbera d'Asti, red of great satisfaction of the palate, very flexible: there are types of Barbera younger and fresh, ready to drink, but overall there is a classic type up to 5-6 years; if in the label there is the word "superior" Barbera d'Asti has had a long aging in wood (small or large) and in bottle, to obtain greater longevity.

From the 2000 harvest is available Barbera d'Asti called "Nizza" by reference to a special area covering Nizza Monferrato and 17 other municipalities (Agliano, Bruno, Calamandrana, Castel Boglione, Castelnuovo Belbo, Castelnuovo Calcea, Castel Rocchero, Cortiglione, Fontanile, Incisa Scapaccino, Maranzana, Mombaruzzo, San Marzano Oliveto, Vaglio Serra, Vinchio).

Barbera d'Asti is the most successful red wine of Piedmont in recent years, very pleasing to the expert consumer; on this label is ongoing an intense market competition and in Astesana events are held each year for taste and comparison.
From the same vine other doc come: Barbera del Monferrato (younger and sometimes lively), Piedmont Barbera, Monferrato Rosso (assembly of several types of grapes).
Other red wines are Dolcetto d'Asti, Asti Freisa, Grignolino d'Asti, Dolcetto Monferrato, Monferrato Freisa Piemonte Grignolino, whose business is spread mainly dedicated to the Italian territory.

The white Astesana wines are Cortese dell’Alto Monferrato, Monferrato, Piemonte Chardonnay, Piemonte Cortese and the rare Formentin Valley Belbo.
Very rich the aromatic proposal: first of all Moscato d'Asti, commonly known as natural to distinguish it from Asti Spumante: finest selected grape that winegrowers of Astesana love to produce, often with the mention of of the vineyard name, as a rare product of high quality, sometimes in late harvest. Moscato is the vine of Loazzolo too, special and expensive wine, produced only in homonymous town from dried grapes (less than 10 thousand bottles, small format).

Come from this area also Brachetto d'Acqui and Piemonte Brachetto, aromatic red, pale color and mild flavor, also produced in the sparkling kind.
In total DOC or DOCG of Astesana are 16, but taking into account various types and sub-denominations, we get to 44 types of wording on the label: a real world of specialty and bio-diversity, of which Astesana is very proud.
The grappa and spirits are an important tradition of Astesana; main types of grappa are made from grapes of Barbera and Moscato and very high quality are the selections taken to slow maturation in wood.
The Liguria hills of the Riviera di Alassio produce two white wines perfect with seafood and traditional stuffed pasta: Pigato and Vermentino, besides rare Lumassina and Quiliano. To find a typical red Ligurian wine we must reach the zone of Pornassio (Imperia) where the Ormeasco is produced (sweet variety).