Asti has today est. 75,000 inhabitant and in its territory is located one of the most important productions of Italian wine. The wine produced there, also called Asti, was formerly known as Asti Spumante. Use of the term "spumante" on wines not from Asti, many of dubious quality, caused the shift to Asti. Asti is typically sweet, sparkling, and low in alcohol (often below 8%). Muscat is a common component, and Asti made only of Muscat may be called Moscato d'Asti.
Asti was founded by Romans; the walls of the ancient city are still up on the north of the town and recently (during the restructuring of a building) a new portion of walls was discovered in the center of the city.
Other important towns of the province are:San Damiano, Villanova d'Asti, Villafranca d'Asti.