Key Facts

Viticulture Attributes: Late budding, Late ripening
Key Growing Regions: Italy Piemonte

WSET3 Palate Notes

Body - Medium,
Acid - High,
Tannin - Low / Medium,
Alcohol - Medium.
Tastes Like: Red cherry, Red plum, Pepper

Prominent in Italy, medium to full-bodied with flavors of red fruit and spices

What you can expect to taste and smell?

Primary Flavours & Aromas

  • Red cherries, plums, black pepper
  • youthful, fruit, no oak

Secondary

Oak - toast, vanilla, sweet spices

Tertiary

Cool vs. Warm Climate

Cool Climate: In cooler regions, Barbera maintains its vibrant acidity and leans toward a more elegant style with pronounced red fruit and lively freshness.

Warm/Hot Climate: In warmer areas, the grape can yield riper, fuller-bodied wines with deeper, darker fruit characteristics while retaining its acidity.

Appellations / Producers of Note

  1. Barbera d’Alba DOC
  2. Barbera d’Asti DOCG (better)

Age-Worthiness

Barbera is delightful in its youth, showcasing its vibrant fruit and acidity.

Aging Potential: Barbera wines from prestigious vineyard sites and skillful producers can age gracefully, developing greater complexity over time.

First Published: Saturday, Sep 2, 2023 Last updated: Jun 23, 2024

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Damien Saunders
WSET3 award - Has been on a journey to learn more about wine, viticulture since I started travelling. Every country has something to drink.
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