More Than 50 Years of History in Every Glass of Barbera from California

Barbera fans have an important opportunity on June 11 to congregate and enjoy many tastes of this classic food-friendly wine. At the Barbera Festival, held at Terra d'Oro/Montevina Vineyard in Plymouth, Amador County, more than 70 wineries will pour glass after glass of a wine that boasts a compelling story in the history of California wines.

Darrell Corti

“The story begins at Montevina in 1974,” states Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers, a Sacramento-based wine merchant. Mr. Corti is internationally known as a wine and food expert. “Both in 1943 and 1960, viticulturists from U.C. Davis had recommended Barbera as a compatible grape for California. In the Sierra Foothills, Cary Gott, owner of Montevina in Amador County, planted Barbera in 1972.”

In 1976, Italian oenologist Giacomo Tachis came to California from Tuscany, Italy, for the first time. Over dinner at a restaurant in Sonoma, Corti served him the 1974 Montevina Barbera, which had been bottled in Spring 1976. Tachis was astounded at the high quality of the Montevina Barbera. The rest is history. Barbera from Amador and other Sierra Foothill counties continues to please wine drinkers.

There are more producers of Barbera in the Sierra Foothills than anywhere outside of Italy, but the 70-plus wineries pouring at the Barbera Festival include wines from other California regions and some wines imported from Italy too.  

The Barbera Festival takes place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat., June 11, 2016. Tickets $50 ($40 for designated drivers). Tickets include admittance, wine tasting, live music and a commemorative wine glass. Food, provided by top restaurants and caterers, is sold separately, and parking is free. All proceeds go to support the Amador Community Foundation, supporting local nonprofits and community-enhancing endeavors. For more information, go to BarberaFestival.com.