Red Wines from Monferrato: Barbera, Dolcetto, and Grignolino

Monferrato: i vini

Discovering some of the finest red wines of Monferrato: Barbera, Dolcetto, and Grignolino

Monferrato, officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014, is a thriving hilly region of Piedmont, which has always been home to some of the finest wines of the world.

Enclosed between the provinces of Alessandria and Asti, Monferrato is also home to Cantine Povero. Since 1964 Cantine Povero has expertly cultivated grapes in Cisterna d’Asti and Canale d’Alba to produce some of the finest Piedmontese wines.

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Red Wines from Monferrato

Among the excellences of the winemaking tradition of Monferrato, some exquisite red wines with a long and prestigious history and outstanding flavors stand out.

Precious symbols of the food and wine culture of Piedmont, Barbera, Dolcetto, Bonarda, and Grignolino are among the most appreciated and popular red wines of Monferrato.

vino rosso Monferrato

Barbera

Barbera is the most widespread and well-known black grape varietal of Piedmont.

Despite its rich personality and robust and full-bodied palate, for many years Barbera has been the typical table wine of Piedmont. However, after that winemakers started to craft more complex versions of Barbera, this wine has become very popular not only in Piedmont but also in the rest of Italy and the world.

The favorite wine among Piedmontese people, Barbera pairs fabulously with red meats, roasts, and risottos typical of the Piedmontese culinary tradition.

Among Cantine Povero wines, we suggest Contrada Maestra Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Maridà Barbera d’Asti DOCG, and Dianae Barbera d’ Asti DOCG.

Contrada Maestra Barbera d’Asti DOCG

The most authentic and traditional version of Barbera. The color is an intense ruby red and the aromas are vinous and persistent. This Barbera d’Asti is a fresh, fruity, easy-to-drink wine; its versatility allows us to experiment with the most unusual food pairing.

Dianae Barbera d’ Asti DOCG

This fresh, sulfite-free red wine has a beautiful deep ruby color with purple shades. The bouquet is fruity and floral, with marked notes of ripe cherry, blackberry, raspberry, and plum. The freshness and softness of the tannins make this young wine a winner even with the most unusual combinations, such as risotto with asparagus or Mexican tacos.

Maridà Barbera d’Asti DOCG

A complex and elegant version of Barbera. The bouquet is rich and fine, with notes of red fruit jam, tobacco, and leather. The palate is soft and graceful, with good structure and persistence. Perfect in combination with main courses typical of Northern Italy such as polenta and sausage.

Dolcetto

Another typical black grape variety of Piedmont, in particular from Monferrato. The origin of Dolcetto is debated between Piedmont and Liguria. In any case, Dolcetto certainly plays a

crucial role in the Piedmontese winemaking tradition and is one of the most renowned Italian wines.

Dolcetto is an easy-drinking wine, which can be drunk already a few months after harvest. Its bouquet is persuasive, and its palate is quaffable, soft, and fresh. The name Dolcetto in Italian means “sweet one”, but you should not be misled by its name. The name refers in fact to the word“duset”,  which in Piedmontese means “hill”, or to the Dolcetto grapes, which unlike the wine are very sweet.

Among Cantine Povero wines, we suggest Capitano del Palio Monferrato DOC Dolcetto:

The color is ruby red with violet reflections. The aromas are fruity, with intense notes of blueberry, plum, violet, and cherry. The full-bodied and dry flavor makes this wine fantastic throughout the whole meal, especially with home cooking such as legume soup or lasagna.

Grignolino

Grignolino is another worthy exponent of the Monferrato winemaking tradition. This black grape variety used to be popular only locally in Piedmont, but recently got the attention of journalists and wine experts all over the world.

Grignolino has its roots in the Middle Ages; the name derives from the Piedmontese word “grignola” which denotes the seeds of which its grape are rich.

A dry and slightly tannic wine, with delicate and characteristic aromas. It pairs amazingly with boiled meat, cheeses, and cold starters typical of the Piedmontese culinary tradition. It is also known to be one of the few red wines to pair well with fish.

Among Cantine Povero wines, we suggest Buon Paggio Piemonte DOC Grignolino.

Buon Paggio Piemonte DOC Grignolino

The color is a light ruby red; the nose is typically spicy, with hints of grape, plum, hay, and rose. The palate is fresh, balanced, and dry with lively and tasty tannins.

Grignolino is a wine for all occasions, but we recommend pairing it with cold cuts and soups.

The Piedmontese wine tradition is vast and ancient. For this reason, there are many fine wines with unique characteristics to taste and appreciate.