Villa Vallecito Vineyards, Sierra Foothills (California) Barbera 2010

Barbera from the New World unlike Barbera from northern Italy, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The grape variety typically exhibits high levels of acidity that can be daunting in poor vintages. California Barbera, on the other hand, is picked riper and with lower acids and the results can be extremely pleasing. That’s the case with this lush, fruit-driven Barbera from the Sierra Foothills. It won platinum at the fifth annual Winemaker Challenge, a well-deserved honor.