Barbera (Italy)
Barbera is a red wine grape from Piemonte in Italy.
Typical Flavors
 Red Currant |
 Raspberry |
 Cherry |
 Blackberry |
 Minerals |
 Herbs |
 Roses |
 Spices |
Red Berry flavors are typical for Barbera.
Hints of Minerals, Herbs, Roses, and Spices.
Barbera Profile
Barbera has high acidity, good fruit aromas, and little tannins:
| BODY | Medium - Low | ||
| TANNINS | Medium - Low | ||
| FRUIT | Medium Plus | ||
| ACIDITY | High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Pasta |
 Risotto |
 Mushroom |
 Truffle |
 Pizza |
 Hamburger |
 Sausages |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Chicken |
 Rabbit |
 Pork |
Berry aromas, good acidity and light tannins make Barbera a perfect food wine.
It pairs well with rich foods, meats, and earthy mushrooms, as well as with lighter types of grilled meat, pasta and tomato based dishes.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Risotto. Mushrom. Truffel.
Pasta Bolognese. Spaghetti Carbonara.
Pizza. Tomato Sauces.
Smoked Ham. Prosciutto. Salami.
Grilled Meat. Chicken. Rabbit. Pork.
Meatballs. Sausages.
Cheese:
Medium Cheeses.
Fontina. Taleggio. Briscola.
Piemonte Spesialities:
Osso Buco.
Stewed Rabbit.
Risotto al Tartufo Bianco (White Truffles).
Mushroom Pizza with Truffle Oil.
If You Like Barbera
You Might Also Like:
| Barbera (Italy) |
| Cabernet Franc (France) |
| Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (Italy) |
| Chianti (Italy) |
| Dolcetto (Italy) |
| Frappato (Italy) |
| Garnacha (Spain) |
| GSM Wines (France) |
| Rioja Crianza (Spain) |
| Teroldego (Italy) |
The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the fruit bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
About Barbera
The Barbera grape probably originates from Monferrato. Papers from 1246, found in the Cathedral of Casale Monferrato, describes planting in the Monferrato vineyards.
The people of Piemonte have always enjoyed their famous tannic red wines Barolo, and Barbaresco. But their traditional everyday wines are Dolcetto and Barbera.
Both are light and soft and can be drunk young, due to nice acidity and soft tannins.
Barbera is the most-planted red grape variety in Piemonte.
When it comes to Barbera, there are two important areas (cities): Alba and Asti. The wines from Asti (Barbera d'Asti) tends to be fruitier and lighter than the wines from Alba (Barbera d'Alba).
The hills around Alba are famous for the production of Nebbiolo wines (Barolo and Barbaresco), and this reflects in Barbera d'Alba that tends to see little oak treatment during vinification.
DOC(G)
| DOC(G) | Spesification |
|---|---|
| Barbera d’Alba DOC 1970 Communes in Cuneo / Alba |
85% Barbera + Nebbiolo 12.0% Alcohol |
| Barbera d’Alba Superiore DOC 1970 Communes in Cuneo / Alba |
85% Barbera + Nebbiolo 12.5% Alcohol 12 months Aging 4 months in Barrel |
| Barbera del Monferrato DOC 1970 Communes in Alessandria / Asti |
85% Barbera + Freisa, Grignolina, Dolcetto 12.0% Alcohol |
| Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOC 1970 - DOCG 2008 Communes in Alessandria / Asti |
85% Barbera + Freisa, Grignolina, Dolcetto 13.0% Alcohol 14 months Aging 6 months in Barrel |
| Barbera d’Asti DOC 1970 - DOCG 2008 Communes in Alessandria / Asti |
90% Barbera 12.0% Alcohol Min 4 months Aging |
| Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOCG 2008 Communes in Alessandria / Asti |
90% Barbera 12.0% Alcohol 14 months Aging 6 months in Barrel |
| Nizza DOCG 2014 18 Communes in Asti |
100% Barbera 13.0% Alcohol 18 months Aging 6 months in Barrel |
| Nizza Riserva DOCG 2014 18 Communes in Asti |
100% Barbera 13.0% Alcohol 30 months Aging 12 months in Barrel |
Piemonte (Piedmont)
Piemonte has been an important wine province since Roman times. The area is influenced both culturally and climatically by the Alps in the north, and the Ligurian coast in the south.
Red Wines:
Barbaresco
Barbera
Barolo
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Nebbiolo
Gattinara
Ruchè
Vespolina
White Wines:
Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Favorita
Timorasso
Rossese
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling:
Primary Grapes:
Barbera (30%)
Moscato (20%)
Dolcetto (15%)
Nebbiolo (10%)
Piemonte
Nebbiolo (the power of the Barolo and Barbaresco) is the most famous grape of Piemonte, followed by the red grapes Barbera and Dolcetto.
For whites, Cortese and Arneis are the most popular grapes.
For dessert, the off-dry, sparkling Moscato d'Asti is the queen.
The most important wine regions are:
- Asti (Barbera d'Asti)
- Langhe (Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera di Alba, Dolcetto, Roero)
- Monferrato (Barbera del Monferrat, Nizza, Cortese di Gavi)
- North (Gattinara, Ghemme)
Piemonte has 17 DOCG regions:
- Alta Langa (Metodo Classico)
- Asti (100% Moscato)
- Barbaresco (100 %Nebbiolo)
- Barbera d'Asti (Min 90% Barbera)
- Barbera del Monferrato (Min 85% Barbera)
- Barolo (100% Nebbiolo)
- Brachetto d'Acqui (100% Brachetto)
- Gavi (100% Cortese)
- Dogliani Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Ovada Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Diano d'Alba (100% Dolcetto)
- Erbaluce di Caluso (aka Caluso)
- Gattinara (Min 90% Nebbiolo)
- Ghemme (Min 85% Nebbiolo)
- Nizza (100% Barbera)
- Roero (100% Arneis)
- Castagnole Monferrato (90% Ruchè)