Barbera is a grape native to Piedmont, a cool region at the foot of the Italian Alps. It tends to produce fragrant wines of moderate weight, with sharp acidity. These work quite well at the table. Most Barberas will be labeled either Barbera d'Alba or Barbera d'Asti. Barbera from Alba is grown in the same general region as Barolo and Barbaresco, and the wines tend to have more power and weight than those grown in neighboring Asti. Additionally, they tend to share some of the same aromatic features as their more famous cousins, with a greater tendency toward fruit flavors. Barbera ripens earlier than nebbiolo (the varietal responsible for Barolo and Barbaresco), and is planted in the parts of the vineyard that can't ripen nebbiolo: generally the lower elevations and north-facing slopes. While Barbaresco and Barolo are special-occasion wines, barbera can be viewed as a wine for all occasions--and an excellent introduction to the style of the region.
