Barbera (Italy)
Barbera is a red wine grape from Piemonte in Italy.
The most famous wines are Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba.
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 - Light | ||
| TANNINS | Medium - Low | ||
| FRUIT | Medium Plus | ||
| ACIDITY | High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Pasta |
 Risotto |
 Mushroom |
 Truffle |
 Pizza |
 Hamburger |
 Sausages |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Chicken |
 Lamb |
 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. Mushroom. Truffle.
Pasta Bolognese. Spaghetti Carbonara.
Pizza. Tomato Sauces.
Smoked Ham. Prosciutto. Salami.
Grilled Meat. Chicken. Rabbit. Pork. Lamb.
Meatballs. Sausages.
Cheese:
Medium Cheeses.
Piemonte Cheeses: Toma, Raschera, Bra.
Fontina. Taleggio. Briscola.
Piemonte Spesialities:
Bagna Cauda (Hot Dip Appetizer).
Risotto al Barbera
Brasato al Barbera (Meat Stew)
Gran Bollito Misto (Meat Stew).
If You Like Barbera
You Might Also Like:
| Barbera (Italy) |
| Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (Italy) |
| Dolcetto (Italy) |
| Frappato (Italy) |
| Gamay Noir (USA) |
| Garnacha (Spain) |
| GSM Wines (France) |
| Schiava (Italy) |
| Teroldego (Italy) |
The Ideal Glass
The Burgundy glass is perfect for a light and fruity red wine.
The glass is broader than other red wine glasses.
The larger bowl has the function of accumulating the aromas of delicate red wines. It also allows a proper swirling, channeling the aromas upwards.
In addition, the style of the glass directs the wine to the tip of your tongue
for a better reception of the tastes.
DOC(G)
| DOC(G) | Spesification |
|---|---|
| Barbera d’Alba DOC 1970 Communes in Cuneo / Alba |
Min. 85% Barbera 12.0% Alcohol |
| Barbera d’Alba Superiore DOC 1970 Communes in Cuneo / Alba |
Min. 85% Barbera 12.5% Alcohol Min 12 months Aging 4 months in Barrel |
| Barbera del Monferrato DOC 1970 Communes in Alessandria / Asti |
85% Barbera + Freisa, Grignolino, Dolcetto 12.0% Alcohol No Minimum Aging |
| Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOC 1970 - DOCG 2008 Communes in Alessandria / Asti |
85% Barbera + Freisa, Grignolino, Dolcetto 13.0% Alcohol Min 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 Min 14 months Aging 6 months in Barrel |
| Langhe Barbera DOC 2010 54 Communes in Cuneo |
85% Barbera 12.0% Alcohol Min 5 months Aging |
| Nizza DOCG 2014 18 Communes in Asti |
100% Barbera 13.0% Alcohol Min 18 months Aging 6 months in Barrel |
| Nizza Riserva DOCG 2014 18 Communes in Asti |
100% Barbera 13.5% Alcohol Min 30 months Aging 12 months in Barrel |
Famous Italian Grapes
Barbera
Barbera is a red wine grape from Piemonte in Italy.
In Italy, Barbera is the the 4th most planted red grape after Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Merlot.
It is known for deep color, good body, low tannins and high acidity.
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 get a little oak treatment during vinification.
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
Barbera Superiore
Barolo
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Dolcetto Dogliani
Nebbiolo
Nizza
Gattinara
Ruchè
Terre Alfieri
Vespolina
White Wines:
Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Favorita
Langhe Rossese
Roero Arneis
Terre Alfieri Arneis
Timorasso
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling:
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's DOCG regions:
- Alta Langa (Metodo Classico)
- Asti (100% Moscato)
- Barbaresco (100 %Nebbiolo)
- Barbera d'Asti (Min. 90% Barbera)
- Barbera del Monferrato Superiore (Min. 14 months storage)
- 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)
- Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato (90% Ruchè)
- Terre Alfieri (Arneis and Nebbiolo))