Nizza Monferrato: Preview of the Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza
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The third Anteprima Nizza (Nizza Preview) presented the 2006 vintage of the Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza to the Italian and international trade press. The meeting with the press took place on May 4, 2009, at the Foro Boario in Nizza Monferrato, a building from the late 19th century which was recently remodeled to host indoor events.
Gianluca Molino (left), of the Associazione Produttori del Nizza,
and Nizza Monferrato's Mayor, Maurizio Carcione.
The blind tasting of 30 wines including some barrel tasting was presented by as many producers of the Associazione Produttori del Nizza (Association of the Nizza Wine Producer). Though not all the wines resulted perfectly balanced, the tasting introduced an excellent vintage, which express the terroir fully, rich in perfume, structure and elegant tannins. The alcoholic content suggests wines with great potential, which will improve and mature with some more years spent in the bottles.
Group photograph of the producers participating in the event
The tasting was followed by an interesting debate well moderated by the Association's President, Gianluca Morino, and Press secretary, Patrizia Cantini. The participating journalists and representatives of the producers analyzed doubts and expectations related to this important vintage.
In the afternoon the event continued with the tasting of other types of Barbera, both Superiore and regular, as well as different vintages. The excellent dinner prepared by the great chef 'Balėn', whose real name is Angelo Silvestro from the restaurant of the same name in Livorno Ferraris, in the province of Vicenza, was a perfec end to this day, dedicated to a wine which, though it represents an important Piedmontese product, it has not yet found its place either at a national or international level.
Paolo Alciati, author of the article, during the blind tasting
Let's hope that the superior quality of this Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza will help in expanding the awareness of the buyers for the Barbera in general, of which 280,000 hectoliters (around 7.4 million gallons), or 38,000,000 bottles are produced yearly on average.
The production rules for the Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza state that it must contain from 85% to 100% Barbera grapes, with the addition for the remaining 15% of Freisa, Grignolino or Dolcetto grapes, either alone or combined, though the associates of the consortium use 100% Barbera grapes only. The municipalities in which the Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza are 18 out of the 169 in which the whole Barbera d'Asti is produced. 118 municipalities are in the province of Asti, and 51 in the province of Alessandria.
Paolo Alciati, author of the article, participates in the discussion with the producers.
The 18 municipalities in which the Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza is produced are:
- Agliano,
- Belveglio,
- Calamandrana,
- Castel Boglione,
- Castelnuovo Belbo,
- Castelnuovo Calcea,
- Castel Rocchero,
- Cortiglione,
- Incisa Scapaccino,
- Mombaruzzo,
- Mombercelli,
- Nizza Monferrato,
- Vaglio Serra,
- Vinchio,
- Bruno,
- Rocchetta Palafea,
- Moasca,
- San Marzano Oliveto.
Vineyards in the Nizza Monferrato Area
The Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza has a ruby red color which turns to garnet when aged. It has intense perfume and to the palate it is dry, harmonic and round. It must be aged at least 18 months from January 1 following the harvest, including a minimum of six months in wooden barrels. The alcohol content can range from 13% to 14% by volume.
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