Barbaresco DOCG 2015

Valter Bera’s family has been growing grapes in the village of Neviglie for over a century, selling grapes to other firms for many years. Valter joined the winery in 1979 after graduating from the Enological School of Alba and began bottling Moscato, Brachetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo under the Bera name.

Neviglie is a small village of 400 people located just a few kilometers south of Barbaresco and is home to the Bera family. The family owns and farms 56 acres in Neviglie as well as vineyards in the nearby Asti and Barbaresco areas to produce a broad range of wines.

The Barbaresco comes from two different vineyards of southern exposition in Neive: Serraboella and Basarin. Basarin, which is marked by its high altitude (more than 250 meters above sea level) and its calcareous blue-marl soils, is considered one of Barbaresco’s top sites for Nebbiolo. The wine was aged in used French barrique for four years.

Tasting Notes

Valter Bera’s Barbaresco is a classic expression of Neive with freshness and a bit more austerity than wines from neighboring villages. An intense aroma of red cherry fruit and violets is followed by flavors of red cherries, plums, and minerals on the palate, framed by bright acidity and firm tannins.

Food Pairing

Nebbiolo can be firmly tannic and requires dishes that help soften its powerful structure. Braised dishes such as short ribs with polenta or Brasato al Barolo are considered classic pairings with Nebbiolo. A mushroom risotto or agnolotti dal plin with a generous shaving of white truffles is sublime when paired with Nebbiolo.

Vineyard & Production Info

Production area/appellation:

Barbaresco DOCG

Vineyard name:

Basarin and Serraboella

Vineyard size:

7 acres

Soil composition:

blue marl, clay

Training method:

Guyot

Elevation:

990 feet

Vines/acre:

1720

Yield/acre:

2.6 tons

Exposure:

Southwestern

Year vineyard planted:

1986

Harvest time:

September-October

First vintage of this wine:

1999

Bottles produced of this wine:

5,000

Winemaking & Aging

Varietal composition:

100% Nebbiolo

Fermentation container:

Stainless steel tanks

Length of alcoholic fermentation:

18 days

Fermentation temperature:

68 °F

Maceration technique:

Pumpovers and Aeration

Length of maceration:

18 days

Malolactic fermentation:

Yes

Type of aging container:

Barriques

Size of aging container:

225 L

Age of aging container:

3 years

Type of oak:

French

Length of aging before bottling:

4 years

Length of bottle aging:

6 months