Barbera

Barbera [bar-Bear-uh] is a red wine grape widely planted in Italy. It produces full bodied, ruby coloured wines with surprisingly low tannin levels. It has good ´yields´ or ´agricultural output´. The varietal offers intense aromas of fresh red and blackberries. Known for a variety of flavours ranging from cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and dried fruits in the lighter versions which are not recommended for cellaring to wines were the producers have used toasted oak barrels to provide increased complexity, ageing potential and flavoursome hints of vanilla. When Barbera has been in oak it has a higher alcohol content with a good balance of acid and fruit, and is more capable of cellaring.