The sparkling wines produced under DOCG Asti differ from Champagne in that the secondary fermentation to produce the bubbles is carried out using the natural sugars present in the must, without added sugar. In France, sparkling wines made using the méthode ancestrale follow a similar approach.
According to the categories defined by the EU for grapevine products, these wines are classified as Vino spumante di qualità del tipo aromatico (Quality aromatic sparkling wine).
Most sparkling wines from DOCG Asti undergo their secondary fermentation in pressurized tanks. However, some are also produced using the Metodo classico (also known as Metodo tradizionale), in which the fermentation takes place in the bottle.