W3 Wine School

Barbera del Monferrato (Italy)

Barbera del Monferrato DOC is a red wine made from minimum 85% Barbera grapes.

Barbera d'Alba Flavors

Red Berry flavors are typical for Barbera d'Alba.

Hints of Minerals, Herbs, Roses, and Spices.

Red Currant
Red Currant
Raspberry
Raspberry
Cherry
Cherry
Plum
Blackberry
Mineral
Minerals
Herbs
Herbs
Roses
Roses
Spices
Spices

Barbera d'Alba Profile

Barbera d'Alba has high acidity, good fruit aromas, and little tannins:

BODY:Medium - Light
TANNINS:Medium - Low
FRUIT:Medium Plus
ACIDITY:High
ALCOHOL:13-14% ABV
Temperature Serving temperature:
15-16°C (59-61°F)

Barbera d'Alba Food Pairing

Berry aromas, good acidity and light tannins make Barbera d'Alba 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.

Pasta
Pasta
Risotto
Risotto
Mushroom
Mushroom
Truffle
Truffle
Pizza
Pizza
Hamburger
Hamburger
Sausages
Sausages
Salami
Salami
Ham
Ham
Chicken
Chicken
Lamb
Lamb
Pork
Pork

Excellent Pairings

Risotto. Mushroom. Truffle.
Pasta Bolognese. Spaghetti Carbonara.
Pizza. Tomato Sauces.
Smoked Ham. Prosciutto. Salami.
Grilled Meat. Chicken. Rabbit. Pork. Lamb.
Meatballs. Sausages.

Cheeses

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).

The Ideal Glass for Barbera d'Alba

Pick a Burgundy Glass for swirling & releasing the wine aromas.

The shape of the glass captures and directs the delicate aromas to your nose and leads the wine to the tip of your tongue for a better reception of the tastes.

The Burgundy glass was designed for the delicate and aromatic red wine Bourgogne Rouge, made from Pinot Noir grapes in Bougogne (Burgundy).

Barbera d'Alba Cheese Pairing

If You Like Barbera d'Alba

You Might Also Like:

Barbera (Italy)
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (Italy)
Corvina (Italy)
Dolcetto (Italy)
Frappato (Italy)
Gamay Noir (USA)
Garnacha (Spain)
GSM Wines (France)
Pinot Noir (France)
Teroldego (Italy)
Valpolicella Superiore (Italy)

List of Barbera Denominations

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 Grapes

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.

Soil

Climate

Soil

Lime-Rich.
Calcareous Marl.

Soil

Cool/Mild Continental.
Hot and Dry Summers.
Cold and Wet Winters.
Rainy / Foggy Sping.


DOCG Regions in Piemonte


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