Wine
The three neighbouring Provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Alessandria incorporate the Langhe and Monferrato hill region in the centre of Piedmont, limestone and sandstone deposits laid down by the retreating Adriatic some 5 million years ago, and are home to some of Italy’s finest red wines, plus some famous whites. Asti city is in the centre of the area and is the major city of this notable wine district.
Arguably Italy’s most important red wines, the renowned Barolo’s, Barbaresco’s — are produced in the nearby Langhe, in Cuneo province, nearer to Alba, 30 minutes from Asti. Most of the Monferrato lies in the Province of Asti, and is an equally, though not so famous, important area for the production of fine wines.
Perhaps the wine most famously associated with Asti worldwide is the sparkling Asti Spumante (DOCG). The name today is usually shortened to ‘Asti’ in order to avoid associations with the many wines of dubious quality which are labelled as Spumante. Asti is typically sweet and low in alcohol (often below 8%). It is made solely from the moscato bianco white muscat grape. A premium version known as Moscato d’Asti (DOCG) is seldom seen outside Italy. Besides Asti Spumante being the most known wine abroad, the most renowned wine made in Asti and Monferrato is the red wine called Barbera.
While Asti province became famous around the world thanks to Martini and Rossi, Gancia and Ricadonna which made commercial wines like Asti Spumante, it is now also becoming famous internationally for its classic red wines such as Barbera d’Asti, Fresia d’Asti, Grignolino d’Asti, Bonarda and Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato. These wines and many others can be sampled during the week-long Douja d’Or wine exhibition which is held at the same time as the Palio and Sagre.
Food
Asti is also famous for its Festival Delle Sagre, held in September a week before the Palio. During the festival most of the towns in Asti’s province meet in a great square called “Campo del Palio”, here they offer typical food and wine for which they are known. On the Sunday of the Sagre all the towns involved stage a parade with floats depicting traditional farming with everyone in costume along Asti’s roads to reach “Campo del Palio” square.
Asti province becomes a gourmands delight from October to December in the white truffle or “tartufo bianco” season. Although neighbouring Alba is better known for its October truffle fair, some of the best truffles are found around Asti’s hills, and every weekend there is a local truffle festival.