Giovanni Almondo Barbera d’Alba Valbianchera 2015

Ideally drink now through 2022

The Giovanni Almondo Barbera D’Alba is made from 100% Barbera grapes in the Alba growing region, and displays enticing aromas of red and black cherry, flowers, and freshly cut lumber. Bright and refreshing, the Valbianchera tastes of tart red fruit intermixed with darker blackberry and plum, with vanilla and clove notes lending the wine complexity. A juicy, acidic finish that leaves the mouth wanting more betrays this wine’s true purpose: to pair with food!

This versatile wine has the freshness Barbera is known for, along with a body that allows it to match up to heavier dishes as well. This could be paired with lighter game dishes like roasted spiced duck, or heavier dishes like pork or beef stew. It would also do nicely with fresh pasta topped with shaved truffle.

The estate of Giovanni Almondo began as a farm selling apples, peaches, and strawberries, while producing some wine that was sold in bulk. Giovanni’s son, however, had other ideas: Domenico went to school for agricultural science and returned in 1980 with the notion to make and bottle their own estate wine. This led to the production of the Valbanchiera Barbera, which comes from roughly 60-year old vines planted on silt, sand, clay, and limestone soils. The mix of soils gives the wine its unique combination of freshness and body. After harvest, the wine is fermented in stainless steel, aged in oak barriques for 12 months, and then aged for a further 6 months in temperature controlled tanks.