Brachetto d'Acqui, also known as Acqui, is a DOCG found in Italy's north-western Piedmont region. It was awarded its classification in 1996, and its vineyard area of 2674 acres (1082ha) is strictly limited to 18 communes in the province of Asti and eight in the province of Alessandria, near the town of Acqui Terme, south-east of Asti. According to regulations, topography plays a major part in the quality of production and only those vines grown on soils primarily comprising calcareous-clay and marl-rich components are considered suitable. Brachetto is the red grape from which this wine is made, to the exclusion of any other. It is thought to have originated in and around the hills near Asti, most likely the Monferrato hills, although in their 1875 publication Ampelografia della Provincia di Alessandria, ampelographers Demaria and Leardi proposed that it came from Nice in eastern Provence.