DOCGStill huntingEasy
Barbera d'Asti DOCG
Barbera's home turf, where the grape gives deeper, rounder wines than in Alba. Bright ruby purple, black cherry and plum, a note of blackberry leaf and, in oaked Superiore versions, vanilla and clove. High acidity and low tannin make it a food wine first: it cuts through fat and handles tomato sauce. From simple stainless steel bottlings at $15 to barrique-aged Superiore at $40 plus, the best keep freshness and avoid tasting like generic oaked red.
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| Producer | Wine | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michele Chiarlo | Barbera d'Asti 'Le Orme' The everyday benchmark (Kobrand imports), juicy cherry and plum with lively acid and a light touch of oak. | $13 to $17 | Wine-Searcher |
| Braida | Barbera d'Asti 'Bricco dell'Uccellone' Giacomo Bologna's barrique Barbera that changed the grape's reputation in the 1980s; dense blackberry, cocoa and toast with Barbera's acid keeping it upright. | $60 to $75 | Wine-Searcher |
| Vietti | Barbera d'Asti 'Tre Vigne' Reliable mid-price bottle (Dalla Terra), black cherry, dried herbs and a mineral edge, mostly large-cask aged. | $18 to $24 | Wine-Searcher |