Famous Italian Wine Grapes: Barbera
When it comes to a go-to wine, there are few that capture as many hearts as Barbera. This Italian red wine grape variety is widely grown and adored in Italy, produced in various styles and expressions. Its approachable character and gorgeous color make it a common find on tables even beyond Italy. Barbera is now traveling the world, and we are sharing exactly why so many are in love with this wine.
Barbera has quite a holy history
The first historical mention of Barbera dates back to the 17th century in the documents of the Cathedral of Casale Monferrato, a town in the Piedmont region of Italy that’s also famous for producing Barolo. These hills are where the first Barbera vines were said to appear, most likely centuries before the first documentation. However, at the time, the Church had major control over the land, placing winemaking in the hands of monks along with the written accounts.
It’s the locals’ go-to wine, for a reason!
Barbera makes things easy. First, it’s quite resilient in the vineyards – making it a winemaker’s best friend. It also brings high yields naturally, providing a sense of security even when it’s a more difficult harvest year. This ease of Barbera also carries on to the table. It’s the go-to wine for locals in Piemonte, even producers who make the best Barolos.
Barbera’s high acidity makes it a versatile food wine, pairing easily various dishes from pasta with tomato sauce to stewed meats and hard cheeses. In its home in Piedmont, the food is very hardy – think delicious agnolotti filled with braised beef, creamy risotto with robiola cheese, or beef slow-cooked in wine. Barbera can handle it all, and more with its acidity cutting through the richness of each dish. And, when the meal is over, the friendliness of Barbera’s earthy red fruit character makes it easy to finish the carafe or bottle long after dessert.
This wine will fool you in the glass
Barbera is adored for its deep ruby color. You must be thinking – this must be a full-bodied and powerful wine. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Behind this deep color is a fresh and lively wine with lower tannins than its fellow neighboring grapes like Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, making Barbera a wine that can be friends with everyone. Add in its core aromas of fruits like raspberries, red cheery, and blackberry – and sometimes a good hint of spice from aging – and it is a welcome guest at any dinner table.
Barbera holds major status in Italy
The primary home of Barbera is Italy, particularly the region of Piedmont – home to other very famous wines like Barolo, Barbaresco, and Moscato d’Asti. Barbera’s identity is strongly tied to where it is grown specifically, which is why it holds multiple key DOC/DOCG appellations. The most famous are Barbera d’Asti, Barbera d’Alba, and Nizza.
Moving beyond Piedmont, you will find Barbera grown in the neighboring region of Lombardy and even as far as the island of Sardinia. Barbera is a good traveler, so much so that the grape has moved even outside Europe – traveling to Argentina, Australia, and the U.S. – more specifically California.
This isn’t a new phenomenon – it’s believed that Barbera first made its voyage at the end of the 19th century when immigrants from Northern Italy brought their Barbera clones with them to the U.S., settling in California where the geography and climate mirrored that of their home in Piedmont.
There isn’t just one kind of Barbera
Just because Barbera has an easygoing character doesn’t mean that it only comes in one boring style. This grape is very versatile even in the cellar. Across it’s appellations and wine producers, you will find a few styles of this grape. Barbera’s fantastic acidity and robust fruit character allow it to persist during the aging process, revealing wines that can evolve with elegance over the years. Still, the best most ageable Barbera comes from appellations where production regulations are strict – specifically Barbera d’Asti. Under this appellation, the quality of Barbera grapes is highly regulated, ensuring a tip-top grape for aging.
Barbera also shines in California
Did you know that Barbera has traveled many miles to show off its gorgeous colors in California? Yes, this grape has become a mainstay for many winemakers, especially in the Northern part of the state. There are plenty of incredible Barbera expressions to explore. Traveling to Amador County, you will find this Italian grape to be highly praised.
At Domenico Winery’s newest location in Ione, nestled in Amador County, their bottles of Barbera are one of the shining stars of their tasting lineup – evoking the unique terroir surrounding the winery.
