Barbera d'Alba is a red Italian wine that is named after the wine region of Alba in northwest Italy's Piedmont area. This wine is made entirely from the Barbera grape variety, which is known for its high acidity and low tannins. The Barbera d'Alba can vary in style depending on how it's made and aged. Some versions are light and fruity, while others are richer and more robust due to ageing in oak barrels.
The typical Barbera d’Alba wine will often have bright cherry fruit character, notes of blackberry, and be somewhat spicy with well-balanced acidity. Notwithstanding their acidity, Barbera wines are often deep-colored, full-bodied, rich wines.
Barbera d'Alba DOC was established in 1970. The "DOC" stands for "Denominazione di Origine Controllata," which is an Italian wine classification that guarantees the wine's origins and adherence to regional production standards.
One interesting thing to note is that even though Barbera is the third most-planted grape in Italy, Barbera d'Alba itself is often overshadowed by the more famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines from the Piedmont region.
To better appreciate a Barbera d'Alba, it is often suggested to pair it with food due to its finesse, typicality, and drinkability. Some dishes that pair well with this wine include hearty stews, pasta with rich meat sauces, grilled sausages, and aged hard cheeses.
