Barbera (Italy)
Barbera is a red wine grape from Piemonte in Italy.
Flavors
 Raspberry |
 Cherry |
 Blackberry |
 Herbs |
 Lavender |
 Spices |
Red Berry flavors are typical for Barbera, with hints of Herbs, Almonds, Lavender and Spices.
Oaked Barbera can have flavors of Vanilla and mild Coffee.
Profile
Barbera has high acidity, good fruit aromas, and little tannins:
| BODY | Light | ||
| TANNINS | Low | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Pasta |
 Risotto |
 Mushroom |
 Truffle |
 Pizza |
 Hamburger |
 Sausages |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Chicken |
 Rabbit |
 Pork |
Barbera's aromas of cherries, raspberries, and almonds, together with good acidity and light tannins makes it a perfect food wine.
It pairs especially well with lighter types of grilled meat, pasta dishes, tomatoes and mushrooms.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Pasta Bolognese. Spaghetti Carbonara.
Risotto. Mushrom. Truffel.
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).
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 red wines (Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera), but their traditional everyday wine has been Dolcetto.
Dolcetto is light and soft and can be drunk young, due to low acidity and soft tannins (Dolcetto literally means "little sweet one").
Today, Barbera is beginning to overtake the everyday wine role in Piemonte. Barbera produces more fruit and the price of Barbera is now lower than the price of Dolcetto.
Barbera is now the most-planted red grape variety in Piemonte.
Wines of Piemonte
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 |
The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is the perfect glass for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Piemonte Wines
Barbera
Barbaresco
Barolo
Dolcetto
Nebbiolo
Vespolina
White Wines:
Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Moscato d'Asti
Piedmont
