Barbera is One of Italy’s Most Food-Friendly (and Budget-Friendly)
Barbera is most famous when it’s grown in Italy’s Piedmont region, where the red wine produced from it is absolutely perfect for everyday enjoyment…and priced to be able to pop a cork whenever the mood strikes. But it’s also increasingly grown in other places around the world, and the results are as exciting as they are delicious. But Italy is Barbera’s main home. Let’s take a look at what makes it so special.
What is Barbera wine?
Barbera wine is produced from the Barbera grape. It is most famously crafted in Piedmont, Italy. Barbera red wine is considered to be one of the three most important grape varieties of that famous region, alongside Nebbiolo and Dolcetto. And while the great Piedmont wines produced from Nebbiolo—Barolo and Barbaresco are at the top—often benefit immensely from aging, and while Dolcetto is typically meant to be enjoyed pretty much immediately, Barbera fits somewhere between those two. It is excellent as soon as you buy a bottle, but the best producers generally craft Barbera red wine that also has the ability to age a bit. It is nothing short of a legend among all Italian wine.
What wine is Barbera similar to?
And what does Barbera taste like? Barbera is occasionally compared to Pinot Noir in its amplified acidity, but it typically lacks the often silky texture of Pinot. Still, Barbera is not a rough-textured wine by any stretch There are some similarities to Beaujolais Cru, but its closest analog is probably Dolcetto, though with more richness. Basically, if you like bright, savory red wines that have cherries, brambly fruit, leather, and spice notes, and that pair well with a huge range of foods—it’s the perfect pizza wine, for example!—then Barbera is definitely worth trying.
Is Barbera wine sweet or dry?
Barbera wine is almost always made in a dry style. It’s not as tannic as Nebbiolo, for example, but it still tends to be perceived as being a very dry wine. Still, its bright acidity keeps it fresh and mouthwatering.
What food does Barbera wine pair with?
Barbera wine pairs well with dishes that are high in acid (like tomato sauce), fat (cheeses are a natural partner), and savory flavors (bring on the mushrooms). Classic Barbera food pairing options include pizza, spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs, grilled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, and more. It’s also excellent alongside a simple cheese and charcuterie selection.
What kind of wine is Barbera d’Asti?
Barbera d’Asti—some people call it Barbara Asti, but the official term is Barbera d’Asti—is Barbera that has been grown in and around Asti in Italy’s Piedmont region. The other most famous expression of Barbera wine is Barbera d’Alba, which is simply Barbera that has been grown in and around Alba in Italy’s Piedmont region.
What’s the difference between Barbera and Barbera d’Asti?
Barbera is the name of the grape variety and the the wine produced from it—Barbera can be grown anywhere, and is successfully crafted into very good wine in places as far apart as California and Australia and beyond. Barbera d’Asti, on the other hand, is Barbera that has been grown and crafted into wine in and around Asti in the Piedmont region of Italy. This is where the classic expression of Barbera wine comes from, alongside Barbara d’Alba.
How do you drink Barbera wine?
Barbera is best enjoyed with a very slight chill, which will allow its natural sense of freshness to really shine. You’ll be all set if you put the bottle of Barbera in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before pouring a glass. Just don’t drink it too cold: The wine will feel too rough-textured when you sip it.
Is Barbera a Nebbiolo?
No, Barbera is a different grape from Nebbiolo. They both are classically rooted in Italy’s Piedmont region, but Nebbiolo is the grape variety used to make Barolo and Barbaresco, whereas Barbera is its own variety that is used to make wines of the same name as the grape: Barbera wine.
Browse our full selection of Barbera wine online or check out our selection of highly rated Barbera wine for a great new Barbera wine to try this week!
Want to learn more about Barbera wine?
Visit our Guide to Barbera wine to learn more about Barbera wine.