2020 Franco Serra Piemonte Rosso

80% Barbera d’Asti, 20% Barbera d’Asti Superiore. This is a blend of two separate lots of Barbera. Each lot is grown, harvested and vinified separately; all grapes are hand picked. The Barbera d’Asti is macerated for 10 days prior to fermentation and matured in stainless steel. The Barbera d’Asti Superiore is macerated for three weeks prior to fermentation in stainless steel and then aged in 20% new oak for one year. This specific blend was developed to capture the bright fruit and intensity of fresh Barbera and frame it with the depth and richness of the oaked Barbera.

Awesome value as always from Franco Serra, this is a medium bodied Barbera with plenty of bright red cherry, woodsy blackberry and plum fruit alongside dark chocolate, sandalwood, and fresh earth. Brisk acidty and mellow tannins make this a great accompaniment to any pasta or red-sauce dish. 

Franco Serra is produced by the Sperone family who have been making affordable premium wines for four generations. In 1911, Antonio Sperone opened a small wine shop in Torino where he sold bulk wine directly to consumers. Unsatisfied with the quality and price of the local wine, Antonio started his own winery in Puglia and built a bottling facility in Torino. He was soon able to offer his customers quality wines at prices everyone could afford. Sadly, it had to close during WWII. The winery in Puglia survived the war and enabled Antonio’s grandson Giacomo to open a new facility in 1965 near Milan where he produced vermouth, sparkling wines, spirits and fine wines. In 1983, the family purchased 75 acres of prime vineyards in Piedmont and built the current winery in the small town of Mombaruzzo just outside Monferrato.