From: Piemonte, Italy
Varietal: Barbera

Taste & Critical Acclaim: Aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, goudron*, and some pepper. It has the typical high acidity of a Barbera d’Asti with medium-low tannins, and an elegant mouthfeel leading to a dry, spiced finish. *Goudron is a warm, ethereal, intense note that pleasantly recalls the aroma of tar. The key word here is elegant. This Barbera shines in the glass & is a testament to the history and quality of the estate (last tasted Jan 2023).

This estate may have a long history in the region but it’s only since 1997 that production moved from the local co-op to in house, today run by fourth-generation Renato Vacca. This Barbera is vibrant and juicy with great finesse and focus of rich, peppery black cherry fruit and integrated oak.
91 pt Decanter

Pairing: The traditional, regional pairing for Barbera d'Asti is tajarin pasta, which is a long, ribbon pasta made of egg dough and finished with light, creamy sauces, a little meat, and, for an added splash of flavor, truffles. Of course, risottos (check out this recipe for Porcini Risotto), practically anything with mushroom, pastas with cream or tomato sauces, salmon, and meats all provide ample pairing options- in this case, go the route of antipasti, roasted chicken, braised or roasted meat dishes and skip chewy cuts of steak.

“My father, Adriano, is the youngest son of Natale and Teresa Vacca. Our family has lived in this region for generations. Like many families in the Langhe, we speak Piemontese as our first language and Italian as our second. Some of the grapevines we manage today were planted by my great grandfather.”
       -Renato Vacca, winemaker and owner of Cantina del Pino
 
Domizio Cavazza was the director of the Royal Enological School in Alba from 1888-1913. When he arrived, he surprised everyone by purchasing land and making his home in Barbaresco. The noble families expected that he would reside near the more famous estates in Barolo. Cavazza, though, was a very outspoken and charismatic man, as well as being an enthusiastic supporter of the farmers in the Langhe sub-region. Cavazza celebrated the birth of his first son by planting what now has become a well-known landmark; a large, Mediterranean Pine tree. The estate became known as the ‘Cantina del Pino’.