Barbera d'Alba

About this wine

This Barbera d'Alba from Giacomo Borgogno and Figli shows an intense ruby red color in the glass with a vivid sheen. The aroma is fresh and expressive with notes of dark berries, ripe plum and cherry, alongside hints of flowers, spice and a touch of leather. On the palate the wine is medium in body, packed with dark fruit flavors yet lifted by naturally high acidity that makes it feel very lively. Tannins are smooth and moderate, giving just enough grip while keeping the texture supple and easy to drink. The wine is made from 100 percent Barbera grown in vineyards around Alba including sites such as Liste and Crosia, and it ferments for about twelve days in stainless steel before aging partly in steel and partly in large Slavonian oak casks. After this period the lots are blended and the wine rests further in bottle, a traditional approach that helps preserve Barbera’s fresh fruit while adding gentle spice and structure.

About the grape

Barbera is an old Piedmontese grape first recorded in the region several centuries ago and it is now one of the most widely planted red varieties in northern Italy. In Barbera d Alba from Giacomo Borgogno, the grape comes from vineyards around the village of Barolo where it grows on calcareous and clay rich soils that help retain acidity while giving good color and body. The variety is naturally vigorous so growers control yields through pruning and traditional Guyot training to concentrate flavor and structure in the fruit. At Borgogno the Barbera is handled with gentle fermentation in cement or stainless steel and a modest period in oak which lets the grape show its bright character while still reflecting this classic Barolo area terroir.

Quick facts

• 🍷 Giacomo Borgogno was founded in 1761 so when you drink this Barbera d Alba you are tasting a style shaped by more than two and a half centuries of Langhe history
• 🌞 The Barbera d Alba grapes come from a sunny hillside plot called Bompe where vines see the sun from morning to evening which helps give the wine its vibrant character
• 🕳️ Borgogno ferments this Barbera in old school cement tanks tucked into an underground maze of historic cellars so the setting looks more like a secret cave than a modern winery ️
• 🧂 The soil in the Bompe vineyard is streaked with white rock and many tasters say this gives the Barbera an unusually salty snap that makes it stand out from softer Barberas from other areas
• 🍇 Although Barbera d Alba rules allow a little Nebbiolo many traditionalists like Borgogno choose to use only Barbera turning this into a proud showcase of Piedmonts classic everyday grape

Palate profile

Producer

Giacomo Borgogno & Figli, established in 1761 by Bartolomeo Borgogno, is one of the oldest wineries in Piedmont, Italy. Notably, their Barolo was served at the 1861 celebration of Italy's unification and during Tsar Nicholas II's 1908 visit. In 1920, Cesare Borgogno began exporting wines internationally and initiated the practice of aging Barolo Riserva for 20 years before release. The Farinetti family acquired the winery in 2008, maintaining its traditional methods and achieving organic certification in 2019.