Agricola Gaia, Brich, Barbera Monferrato, Piemonte, Italy

Who - Gianluca Ravizza, Agricola Gaia 
Where - Monferatto, Piedmont, Italy 
What - Red Wine - Barbera 
When - 2025
How - Organic, 30% whole bunch, 12 hour cold maceration followed by natural fermentation, aged for 9 months in concrete, unfined, unfiltered, just a smidge of SO2 added at bottling, Vegan

Barbera can be found growing throughout Piedmont, and it's often what the locals choose to drink. And if in doubt, follow the locals…

But there are a few areas that really specialise in Barbera, one of which is Monferrato, where the cool of the rolling hills helps create the perfect climate to get the best out of the grape. The name “Brich” is derived from bricco, the Piedmont dialect word for hill top or crag, and this wine is made from 30 year old vines, growing high on the hillside, which have been in great friend and collaborator, Fabrizio Luli’s family for generations. 

Aromas of dark, ripe blackberry flavours and summer pudding, generous and round, but with a lovely edge, a characteristic of Barbera, that balances the fruit and keeps it fresh. 

Drink it with pasta with a meaty sauce, some salumi or cheese and it is perfect with pizza!