The 2012
Barbera Festival, held in early June at
Cooper Ranch in the Shenandoah Valley near Plymouth, CA, brought 1,700
wine aficionados together to taste Barbera from more than 80 wineries from
Camarillo north to Kelseyville, with the majority of participants coming from
the Sierra Foothills and Lodi. This
second annual Festival was sold out three months
early!
Barbera is a lesser-known, and often overlooked, varietal of wine grape. The Barbera grape was first imported into California in 1884, and was used by the Italian Swiss Colony winery in its table wines. The first Barbera varietal (a wine with the name of the dominant grape on the label) was brought to market in 1954 by Louis Martini. Today in California, some 7,000 acres are planted in Barbera, and nearly 200 wineries make at least one style of the varietal.
Other photos from the event:
Barbera is a lesser-known, and often overlooked, varietal of wine grape. The Barbera grape was first imported into California in 1884, and was used by the Italian Swiss Colony winery in its table wines. The first Barbera varietal (a wine with the name of the dominant grape on the label) was brought to market in 1954 by Louis Martini. Today in California, some 7,000 acres are planted in Barbera, and nearly 200 wineries make at least one style of the varietal.
Barbera
originated in the Piemonte region of northern Italy. On the nose, Barbera is
typically lush
and juicy, with aromas of black fruits. Depending on the terroir and the
winemaker, Barbera vintages can convey bright flavors of raspberry, spice, and
tart cherry, or more supple notes of black cherry, blueberry, and
vanilla.
 |
| Urban Legend "trio" |
Marilee
Shaffer, co-owner of Oakland’s Urban Legend Cellars noted that Barbera is a
“Cinderella” of a grape that has been in large part relegated to use as a
blending grape. But when treated
property, she said, “Barbera can really become the Belle of the Ball.” Urban
Legend presented a trio of Barbera, including a refreshing 2010 Rosatto and 2009
red from Holland Landing vineyard, and a 2009 Amador Barbera. The 2009 Amador Barbera is bright cherry and
cassis on the nose, dark cherry and cola on the palate. 15.2 percent alcohol.
$26. www.ulcellars.com
The
2010 Boa Vista
Reserve Barbera, from
Oakstone Winery in Fair Play delivered a surprisingly Zinfandel-like punch of
black pepper, following plum and blackberry aromas. 14.7 percent alcohol. $28.
www.oakstone-winery.com
 |
| Sherri Compton pours Easton Wines. Plymouth (Amador County) |
Plymouth-based Easton Wines plured a 2005-2007
vertical from the same four rows of Cooper Ranch fruit. The older vintage tasted
plump and jammy, while the younger two were bright and full of spice. The Easton
2007 Shenandoah Valley Barbera is rich, balanced and juicy, with a pleasing
spiciness. 14.5 percent alcohol. $24. www.eastonwines.com
The 2009
and 2009 Barbera from Lodi’s D’art
winery is made from grapes grown by Leland Noma . Both vintages exhibit
related-but-not-identical flavor characteristics. The D’art 2010 Lodi Barbera
has bright cherry, earth and berry-like flavors, with a long finish. 15.4
percent alcohol. $24. www.dartwines.com
Other photos from the event:
 |
| Crystal Basin Winery,
Placerville (El Dorado County)- Jack Wohler pours |
 |
| Margie Runquist of Jeff Runquist
Winery, Plymouth (Amador County) |
 |
| Michael Havill of Bella Grace,
Plymouth (Amador County) |
 |
| Tom & Thomas Dillian,
Dillian Wines (Amador County) |
 |
| Peter Nowack |
Barbara’s
fellow blogger, Peter Nowack, is today’s guest columnist. He is the wine lover behind the
BungRCooper.com wine blog, and is founding partner of northern-California based
WEmarketwine.
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