Villa Fiorita, Barbera d'Asti Superiore

The production of Barbera d’Asti comes from the provinces of Alessandria and Asti, in Piedmont. The first records of this varietal appear in a document kept in the town hall of Nizza Monferrato. It was planted extensively in the 1800s and 1900s. Known for its rustic character, it has been celebrated by famous Italian poets like Giosue’ Carducci and Giovanni Pascoli. The Barbera d’Asti with an alcoholic content over 12.5%, and aged for at least a year in wooden barrels, can be called “Superiore”.

Region: Piemonte
Production Area: Castello di Annone (Asti)
Appellation: Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOC
Vintage: 2003
Varietal Blend: 100% Barbera
Vineyard: 600 ft above sea level with a southern exposure. Plant Density: 2.200 vines per acre. Average vines age: 10-30 years old.
Planting System: Guyot.
Soil: Limestone, Clayey.
Harvest: Hand picked end of September.
Yield: About 3.5 tons per acre
Alcohol: 13.5%
Vinification: Fermented in stainless steel tanks for 8 days with daily pump-overs and malolactic fermentation in the tank.
Aging: 12 months in small oak barrels plus 12 months in the bottle.

Tasting Notes: Clear ruby red. Intense nose with long persistence, grapey with scents of vanilla and underbrush. The palate is intense and persistent, warm, round and well balanced.

Food Pairings: Cold cuts, pasta with meat sauces, stewed meats, game.