Barbera, it is known, is one of the most widely grown red grape varieties in the Northwest and gives rise to wines that everyone loves, such as the three we present.
Let’s play the “as if” game. As if Barbera gives extraordinary results everywhere. It really has to be said: in the best areas, and from vineyards set according to precise quality criteria, you get absolutely enjoyable, delicious and even dangerous drinking wines.
We propose three of them, two from Piedmont and one from Lombardy: a Barbera d’Alba, a Barbera d’Asti and one from Oltrepò Pavese, with the Igt Provincia di Pavia.
Let’s start with the Alba one, produced by Batasiolo, a large winery owned by the Dogliani family. It has vineyards in several municipalities in the Barolo area, in La Morra and Serralunga in particular, from where the Brunate and Briccolina crus are derived, respectively. Then he offers Piedmontese wines from different areas, all well made and sometimes with excellent value for money. The secret of the production is to combine experience and passion with absolute avant-garde in the cellar, using the latest technology.
Let’s move on to that of Asti, produced in the Nizza Monferrato area. Gironda has had solid roots in the Nizza area for a few generations where, as in many Piedmontese stories, it is the young people who want to go beyond simply “making grapes,” with an awareness that sometimes might seem like a gamble and instead is the winning choice. It is a female-run business that of the two Galandrino sisters with front woman Susanna, loved by all for her overflowing friendliness. The winery is biosustainable, in organic conversion, but attention to detail has led it to have a decidedly modern winery with special attention to the cold chain.
Let us conclude with Barbera pavese, produced by Monsupello, without a shadow of a doubt one of the most valid and representative wineries in the Oltrepò sparkling wine industry. Always owned by the Boatti family, after the death of Carlo, patriarch and great figure of local vitienology, it is his wife Carla and children Laura and Pierangelo who continue the work, validly supported by oenologist Marco Bertelegni. Production is not limited to sparkling wines, however, and also includes interesting still wines.
Click on the names of the wines to read the fact sheet.
