Marchesi Incisa Della Rocchetta, Barbera d’Asti DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) 2018

 Barbera d’Asti is one of my go-to wines because of its versatility and affordability.  It’s medium / light bodied with juicy cherry, raspberry, blackberry fruit laced with a touch of anise and vanilla.  The scrumptious fruit is balanced with the grape’s trademark snappy acidity and smooth, ripe tannins.  It Is comfortable with many flavors at the table, pairing very well with a burger, fried chicken, barbeque pork, pizza, or a grilled tuna steak.  A quick chill it for 15 to 20 minutes before serving enhances its refreshment factor.  By way of background, the Incisa family has been in the Monferrato area of Piedmont since the 11th century.  In the nineteenth century, the Marchese Leopoldo Incisa made significant contributions to research and knowledge in the fields of enology and grape varieties.  In the 1930s Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, moved from Piemonte to Bolgheri in Tuscany and created the legendary ‘Super Tuscan” wine, Sassicaia.  In the 1990s the Marchesa Barbara Incisa della Rocchetta moved the wine operations from the family estate to La Corte Chiusa.  Today her son and daughter, Filiberto and Francesca, run the winery operations.