Barbera’s fruit-forward aromatics and high yields make this a popular grape worldwide, particularly in Italy’s Piedmont region, the grape’s spiritual home. “Barbera is a go-to grape for many Italians,” says Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast writer at large and Italian wine reviewer. “And depending on if you find it from Nizza, Asti, Alba or Oltrepò Pavese, the wine takes on unique traits from each region—showing how terroir-specific it can be." "Overall, the key traits of Italian Barbera are fresh and vibrant fruit notes (lots of cherry), high acidity and low tannins. It is a great wine to grab," says Porter. But the grape also thrives in warm climates all over the world, including Australia, Argentina and California. “California plantings of Barbera are relatively small with much of it concentrated in the Sierra Foothills—a place where many Italian immigrants settled during the Gold Rush days, planting some of the state's first vines,” says Stacy Briscoe, Wine Enthusiast's senior print editor and California wine reviewer. “The state's warm, Mediterranean climate allows for ripe fruit expressions (think plump black plum and juicy boysenberry) and mature, plush tannic structure," she explains. "But because of the Foothill's high elevation, wines from the region also maintain a refreshing acidic edge, keeping these fuller-bodied expressions light on their feet and aiding in ageability.” Barbera Wines from California and Italy to Drink Now Elvio Cogno 2020 Pre-Phylloxera (Barbera d'Alba) Michele Chiarlo 2020 Le Orme (Barbera d'Asti) Bella Grace Reserve Barbera 2020 (Amador County) Castello di Amorosa 2019 Rancho Victoria Barbera (Sierra Foothills) Ezio T. 2019 Terra del Noce (Barbera d'Asti Superiore) Terra d'Oro 2020 Barbera (Amador County) Robert Renzoni 2018 Barbera (California) FAQ What Is Barbera ? Barbera is a dark-skinned grape. If you like wine with high acidity and fruit forwardness, then you will definitely want to pick up a bottle of Barbera. “Barbera is like the kid in high school that everyone likes, and they are good at everything, too,” says Porter. "The wine can range from dark purple to light red, depending on where it is grown. The aromatics are always fruit forward and loaded with cherries. Barbera is naturally high in acidity, making it bright and fresh on the palate, and tends to have low tannins, so the fruit and vibrancy shine through.” Is Barbera a Red or White Wine? Barbera makes red wines or rosés. Is Barbera Wine Sweet? “Barbera is not sweet, but it is fruity,” says Porter. If the wine is young, it often has “loads of fruit aromas and flavors that are tempered with some fresh herbal and floral notes.” Barbera can also benefit from time in new oak and the resulting bottles will still be fruity but with added notes of baking spice and vanilla. What Food Does Barbera Pair Best With? When asked about one of her favorite Barbera wine pairings, Briscoe immediately responded “pizza!” However, if pizza (sadly) isn’t on the menu, not to worry. “Barbera has a wide range of dishes it likes to pair with, depending on the style,” says Porter, who recommends pairing lighter Barbera with salmon and tuna. And you can’t go wrong with a bottle of this wine with pasta and red sauce. Barbera can even hold its own with ribs. “If you love sticky ribs with a bit of spice,” says Porter. “Barbera plays nicely with the touch of hit and sweetness due to its bright acidity.” Why You Should Trust Us All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.