2005

Nobbio

Barbera D’Asti

Piedmont - Italy

$18.00

From Italy, this is a classic Italian red.  Roberto Ferraris produces a consistently good red wine from the Asti region of Italy.  Made from the Barbera grape, it goes great with red sauced pasta dishes, pizza and all things Italian.  Why you may wonder?  Well the answer is quite simple.  The dirt these grapes grow in is the same Italian soil in which the tomatoes and vegetables also grow, so they all absorb the same minerals, vitamins, and other elements.  Even the cheeses made in Italy match the Italian wines, both red and white, because the cows and goats that produce the milk feed off the grass that grows in the same soil.  As a result the foods and the wine compliment each other beautifully. (In future articles we’ll be exploring this connection between the land, the wine and the foods of different wine growing regions.) 

But for now, back to the wine: This red wine is dry, full flavored, with slight hints of dark fruits and a bit of an earthy flavor.  This would go great with meat sauces, mushroom sauces and peppered sauces as well as red clam sauce, and while we’re at it, don’t forget pepperoni pizza.  You may have to look for this wine, and at $18.00 it’s at the high end of our tasting limits, but it’s worth the price so we give it a 4, a good buy at this price.