Swill or Swell: Episode 16

Barbera D'Asti

watch the episode here

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

​CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

Today I’ll be drinking the 2018 Barbera D’Asti from Italy. I got this from Traders Joes for under $10. I wanted to try it because I drink a lot of Barbera, but none from the D’Asti region yet. So, I’m interested to see if the quality is the same!

BARBERA D’ASTI FUN FACTS

Let’s start by talking about the Barbera grape varietal.

• Mostly grown in Italy, although there are some plantings in the U.S, Argentina, and Australia.
  
• Known as the “wine of the people” in Italy, due to the fact that it is perfect for any type of occasion.
  
• This varietal has lower tannins, and higher acidity.
  
• If you’re a Pinot Noir fan, this could be a good match for you.

Now let’s talk about the D’Asti region.

• Located in Piedmont, the northwest region of Italy.
  
• This area is known as the historical center of Barbera wine making.
  
• Piedmont is also the home of Barolo and Barbaresco.​

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Dark. I’d say a medium to deep ruby.
Smell: A definite red wine smell. Cherry, fruity, a little plum, a little but of cinnamon, but mostly fruit.
Taste: Low tannin, with a long finish, and high acidity. Not a lot of complexity, just one nice, red fruit flavor.
Think:
Food Pairing - Pasta with red meat sauce, pizza, any Italian food really!
Occasion - Date night in (with pizza!)
Rating - I would have loved a little more complexity, but I think this is worth the $8 (or so) I paid for it. So, I give it a swell.

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

Cheers!