What is "barbera"

n. An Italian grape variety grown for use in red wine, or a wine made from such grapes

Barbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy (after Sangiovese and Montepulciano). It produces good yields and is known for deep color, low tannins and high levels of acid.

Century-old vines still exist in many regional vineyards and allow for the production of long-aging, robust red wines with intense fruit and enhanced tannic content. The best known appellation is the DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) Barbera d'Asti in the Piedmont region: the highest-quality Nizza DOCG wines are produced within a sub-zone of the Barbera d'Asti production area. When young, the wines offer a very intense aroma of fresh red and blackberries. In the lightest versions notes of cherries, raspberries and blueberries and with notes of blackberry and black cherries in wines made of more ripe grapes. Many producers employ the use of toasted (seared over a fire) oak barrels, which provides for increased complexity, aging potential, and hints of vanilla notes. The lightest versions are generally known for flavors and aromas of fresh fruit and dried fruits, and are not recommended for cellaring. Wines with better balance between acid and fruit, often with the addition of oak and having a high alcohol content are more capable of cellaring; these wines often result from reduced-yield viticultural methods.

Barbera may refer to:

• Barbera, the grape variety
• Barbera (grapes), several other grape varieties that are also known as Barbera

Places:

• Barberà del Vallès, a municipality of Spain
• Conca de Barberà, a county in Spain
• Stadio Renzo Barbera, a football stadium in Palermo, Italy

As a name:

• Angelo Barbera, an American musician
• Angelo La Barbera (1924–1975), an Italian Mafia member
• Augusto Barbera (born 1938), an Italian law professor, politician and judge
• Gioacchino La Barbera (born 1959), an Italian Mafia member
• Héctor Barberá (born 1986), a Spanish motorcycle racer
• Jason LaBarbera (born 1980), a Canadian ice hockey player
• Jaume Barberà (born 1955), a Spanish director and TV presenter
• Joe LaBarbera (born 1948), an American jazz musician
• John LaBarbera (born 1945), an American jazz musician
• Joseph Barbera (1905–1959), an American mobster
• Joseph Barbera (1911–2006), an American cartoonist
• Mary Ellen Barbera (born 1951), an American lawyer and judge
• Pat LaBarbera (born 1944), an American-Canadian jazz musician
• Paul Barbera (born 1973), an American photographer
• Peter LaBarbera (born 1963), an American social activist
• Rita Barberá Nolla (born 1948), a Spanish politician
• Roberto La Barbera, an Italian paralympic athlete
• Salvatore La Barbera (1922–1963), an Italian Mafia member

Other:

• Barbera d'Asti, an Italian red wine made from the grape variety
• Hanna-Barbera, an American animation studio

Barbera is a name shared by several wine and table grape varieties with the most notable being the red Barbera grape of Piedmont in northwest Italy. Other grapes which are known as Barbera, either as part of their primary name or as a synonym, include:

• Barbera Amara
• Barbera bianca
• Barbera Ciaria
• Barbera del Sannio
• Barbera di Patrunat
• Barbera Sarda
• Barbera Selvatico
• Durasa, known under the synonym of Barbera Rotonda
• Ervi, crossing known under the synonym of Barbera x Bonarda 108
• Freisa, known under the synonym of Barbera
• Sanches, Brazilian hybrid grape crossing known under the synonym of Barbera Min
• Terzi 1, crossing known under the synonym of Barbera x Cabernet Franc N.1