Barbera
Italy’s most widely planted and adaptable grape, Barbera [Bar-BEAR-Ah] excels in Asti and the Alba regions of Piedmont. Straightforward and easy drinking, this wine typifies the Italian ideology that wine is meant to be consumed with meals and with a minimum of fuss and bother. Red fruits dominate this light-bodied wine. Most wines take the name of the village or province in which the grapes were grown as a suffix to the wine’s name, for example, Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monferrato and Barbera d’Alba. When labeled as simply “Barbera,” the wine may be from anywhere.
Grape Type: Barbera
Aromas: Raspberry and cherry
Flavors: Cherry, strawberry with a hint of some darker fruits such as blueberry and plum
Styles: Fresh Fruit / Easy Drinking. Light in body, simple, fresh and bright with high acid and low tannins. Enjoy this wine a few degrees cooler than the heavier reds, and they are best consumed young. These Barberas rarely see oak aging. Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins. The oak aging increases the body and adds smoky notes.
Food Pairings: The slightly sweet overtones, light to medium body and acidity blend well with the tomato-based sauces for which Italian food is famous, such as pizza, pasta in marinara sauce and antipasto dishes.
