Barbera & Dolcetto
Barbera and Dolcetto are the everyday red grapes of Piedmont in north-west Italy, where they're poured alongside the region's grander Nebbiolo wines. Barbera, at its best in Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba, is juicy and vibrant, with bright cherry and plum, high acidity and soft tannins, while Dolcetto ("little sweet one") is darker and plummier, with a pleasantly bitter almond finish, most famously from Dogliani and Alba. Both are also finding a home in Australia, California and Argentina, and are brilliant with pasta, pizza, salumi and anything tomato-based.
