From: Piedmont, Italy
Varietal: Barbera
Tasting Notes: Intensely fragrant on the nose with a complex layering of flavors, including ripe strawberries, dark cherries, dried herbs, and a distinct floral quality. This wine has an impressive weight on the palate, which is bright, juicy, and even silky, with notes of dark cherry, cocoa, and a touch of graphite. This wine has all the hallmarks of age-worthiness.
Pairing: This recipe for Gnocchi with Truffled Mushrooms could easily serve as a luxurious accompanying dish to a roast or steak (both of which the winery suggests pairing this wine with). However, you can definitely have this gnocchi as your main course; just up the ante on the mushrooms and butter!
About. The Azienda Agricola Barale traces its roots all the way back to 1870 when Barolo wine had just appeared on the scene in the Langhe, promoted by the Marchesi Falletti and Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour. Francesco Barale, great-grandfather of the current owner, was among the pioneers in the production of Barolo.
Today Sergio Barale with his daughters Eleonora and Gloria carry on the centuries old family tradition. The 19th century manor house in the historic center of Barolo is the administrative and commercial headquarters of the company. Nearby are the historic underground cellars, where new technologies have been introduced in accordance with traditional rules. The vinification and aging processes adopted are aimed at producing balanced wines in which the characteristics of the grape variety and region of origin prevail.
The south-west facing Castellero ridge was chosen for the late harvest in late October for which Barbera d’Alba La Preda is now renowned. Ideal soil and climate conditions and very limited production characterize these wines; Sergio’s homage to the land.
