La Stoppa Colli Piacentini Barbera 2005 750ml

Winery: La Stoppa

Varietal: Barbera

The rising popularity of the Barbera grape varietal has prompted wineries all over its native Italy and elsewhere in the world to up their production of wines made with this particular flavorful red grape. It seems the relatively light body (due to mild tannins from thin skins) and high acid content sits well with contemporary tastes, and the intense hedgerow berry flavor in the young wines made from this varietal are an excellent pair for many different foods. Thankfully for the vintners growing these vines, this particular varietal is extremely vigorous and grows well on many different terrains, so long as it has plenty of exposure to heat and sunshine and can be harvested early enough to make the most of its excellent and unique characteristics.

Region: Emilia-Romagna

There are few wine regions in the world with as much history and tradition as you will find in Emilia-Romagna. This special northern Italian wine region has been producing wines of quality and distinction for well over two and a half thousand years, and was a favorite region for wine production of the Roman empire, who played a large part in the development of the region. Today, Emilia-Romagna has a booming wine industry, mostly centered around the production of the perennially popular sparkling Lambrusco wines, which are adored worldwide for their delightful fruit flavors and small, elegant bubbles. However, a stunning range of still red and white wines are also produced in the region, commonly made from fine grape varietals including Malvasia, Sangiovese and many others.

Country: Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.