
07/11/2025
Everyone has heard of Moscato d'Asti, the sweet, bubbly white wine from Italy's Piedmont region, however I'd like to shed some light on another great, affordable wine from the same area: Barbera d'Asti! ๐ฎ๐น๐๐
What do these wines have in common? Not much, besides the land they share. Barbera is a light to medium bodied plush red wine, with light tannins and high acidity. What that all means essentially is that it is very fruity, making your mouth water, without that drying sensation found in bolder red wines like Cabernets or Syrah.
Because the Nebbiolo grape is highly regarded by Piedmont growers for exportability and ageability, Barbera is grown in the valleys and lowlands, therefore being designated as a 'drink now' table wine.
Well, you might think that would mean that Barberas is nothing more than a cheap drink, right?
Well, you'd be completely mistaken! I like to say, Barbera offers great value and Wine Enthusiast would agree. They awarded Vietti's Barbera d'Asti Trevie #8 on their yearly 'Best Wines Under $20' list in 2023. Vietti's wine also received 93 points by the same magazine and 94 points by the Tasting Panel.
On the palate, you'll experience wild sour cherry๐ and vanilla notes, a sliver of minerality, and subtle oak๐ชต. It's bright and vibrant, pairing extremely well with roasted duck๐ฆor pork๐, as well as leaner meats, white fish๐, or even Buffalo's favorite, blue cheese ๐ง. Try to avoid pastas with tomato sauce as the high acidity of the tomatoes will clash with the high acidity of the wine, potentially souring the entire experience.
If you want to see just how much terrain and climate can influence a wine, you can buy a Barbera d'Alba to compare and contrast the two! The aforementioned growing regions are only 20 miles apart, and both still in Piedmont, but vary significantly in structure, flavor, and mouthfeel.
Also, the artwork on Vietti's bottles is an added bonus! They've even garnered the winery an exhibition at MOMA in 1996!
๐Location: 4933 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY 14225
We are only a 1 minute drive from the airport. Stop by before you fly! โ๏ธโ๏ธ