Life Style / Wine Grapes / Barbera: Semi-classic grape commonly grown in the Piedmont region and most of northern Italy. Now thought by some to be identical with the Perricone, or Pignatello, grape of Sardinia. Was probably imported into the U.S.A. late in the 19th century. Usually produces an intense red wine with deep color, low tannins and high acid and is used in California to provide 'backbone' for so-called 'jug' wines. Century-old vines still exist in many regional vineyards and allow production of long-ageing, robust red wines with intense fruit and enhanced tannic content. Plantings in North America are mostly confined to the warm western coastal regions.
Search Google for Barbera:
Lifestyle / Wine Grapes / Petite Sirah: Historically has been something of a 'mystery' vine. When first imported into California this variety somehow acquired the subject name possibly as a result of a labeling error confusing it with Petit MORE
Lifestyle / Wine Grapes / Neretta Cuneese: Fairly rare red-wine grape indigenous to Valsusa DOC, Piemonte region of Italy. Has over 20 synonym names, including Costiola. Used in a blend with Barbera and two other varieties to give a semi-sweet MORE
Lifestyle / Wine Grapes / Bonarda (Piemontese): Minor red grape grown in Piedmont region of Italy. Makes fruity red wine of mild intensity when blended with wine from Barbera grape. MORE