The history of the wine you drink is crucial since it determines various factors, including the taste.
With regards to wine brands, you’re better off when you dig deeper. An excellent example of this is Barbera Red wine. It has a rich history of exotic grapes that have contributed immensely to its worldwide acclamation.
Here are five amazing facts you didn’t know about Barbera Red Wine. The National Wine School offers sommelier pin.
1. Available In Different Flavors
Barbera Red wine gives wine lovers the chance to experience different new flavors.
It’s available in mouthwatering flavors of cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. A common misinterpretation of this blissful wine is that its dark color accentuates its strong taste.
On the contrary, it has a light taste that will make you appreciate its mild scents and flavors. What’s more, you’ll sense the aromas of blackberries when it’s young and hasn’t aged as it should.
Its high acidity is a cue for you to make wise and healthy pairings such as cheese, mushrooms, and meats of your choice to counter the effects.
2. It’s Of Italian Origin
Italy is most famous for its pasta cuisines as well as rich cultures and traditions. Red wine is a massive part of the list, and they keep getting better. Barbera Red wine is made from grapes that are diligently planted and harvested in Italy’s Piedmont region.
Barbera grapes go as far back as the 13th century, which explains its matchless excellence in the field of wine-making. Piedmont region has a favorable climate that facilitates the growth of grapes.
It’s mostly dry and sunny, which makes the grapes thrive and yield a bountiful harvest. The world got to know Italy’s perfect treasure through Italians who planted grapes in Argentina and California.
Piedmont is a hilly area in Italy, which provides a conducive region for grapes to grow and thrive. The grapes will not all ripen at once and will only do so in stages. Those who ripen earlier than the others will do better in the lower slopes, shaded from direct sunlight.
The grapes that take longer to ripen will do better at the hilltops, where they get all the necessary nutrients from direct sunlight. Barbera grapes are a fast-ripening lot and usually occupy the lower slopes.
Aside from Italy, Barbera grapes can be found in Greece, Australia, Slovakia, and Romania.
3. Has Specific Pairings
As mentioned earlier briefly, Barbera Red wine is highly acidic. As such, it only goes down well with specific food pairings to counter the cutting effect. For instance, Italian pasta with red sauce topping is a terrific choice if you’re looking to indulge your taste buds.
Better yet, you could opt to order a pizza with toppings of your choice and crown it up with Barbera Red wine. Pizza is one of the most preferred pairings since there is a wide array of flavorings to choose from.
It would generally help if you were well informed on creating your balance between your wine and your pairing. A simple formula would be to know how well the wine’s acidity will cut through the richness in fried or fatty foods to bring out the flavors in your mouth.
Last but not least, never leave out cheese from your list of wine pairings. Moreover, blue cheese makes for a great pairing because it contains fats and proteins, which become well attached to the tannins found in red wine. Also feel free to check out this guide on how to become a sommelier.
4. Requires Unique Storage Techniques
As is the case with most red Wine types, Barbera has a few storage requirements that you must follow to the letter.
Keep it Chilled
Red wine gets spoilt fast in ambient and warmer temperatures. Keeping it under colder conditions will help maintain its rich and original flavor. On the other hand, room temperature will leave your wine tasting like vinegar.
Always store it on its Side
The cork plays an essential role in preventing Oxygen from getting into the wine. This process is called Oxidation. It ruins the wine’s rich flavors and causes them to be bland and flat instead. Storing the wine bottle on its Side ensures that the cork is always moist, giving no room for Oxidation to happen.
Aim for Convenient Storage Suggestions
For example, placing your bottle upstairs will slowly kill the mood for a beautiful round of wine tasting. Pick a spot in your kitchen cabinet, which abides by all the suitable wine storage conditions.
Be Consistent with the Temperatures
As mentioned earlier, fluctuating temperatures could significantly ruin your wine’s flavor by interfering with the chemical processes that take place in wine. Storing it regularly at a moderate temperature is the best way to preserve wine.
5. Older Than Most Sought-after Wines
Barbera grapes date as far as the 7th century, compared to their counterparts. What most wine-lovers are not aware of is that Barbera is older than Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique wine dates back to the 17th century.
Since its inception, Barbera Red wine has been making significant strides in the wine industry, and it’s not about to stop.
Final Thoughts
With all these interesting facts, it’s no wonder why Barbera has been Italy’s wine to reckon with for the last twenty years or so. So, the next time you’re having a fatty or oily meal, pair it with an exquisite Italian wine.
