Barbera & Dolcetto

Barbera

The vine variety

Barbera is the main vine variety of the Monferrato area. It matures quite late and is harvested during the second half of the month of September. It needs warm temperatures and need good drainage. It is cultivated on those hillsides that are exposed and open to the sun. The grape itself is of a medium size, slightly oval in shape with a medium to low tannin content.

The Denomination

Barbera d’Asti DOCG is mainly planted on these open, exposed sites. The wine itself must contain at least 90% grapes of the Barbera variety. It is medium-bodied, fresh, fruity (cherry, plum and other red-berried fruit) with low astringency complemented by a pleasant acidity, making it one of the best wines to accompany a meal. Strja is produced using 100% Barbera grapes.

Dolcetto

The vine variety

Dolcetto is an ancient indigenous variety of vine that in Piedmont is in eleven DOGs.
Dolcetto forms a tapering, elongated bunch with thin-skinned, medium-sized grapes, covered with bloom. The crop matures in the first half of the month of September.
From the Dolcetto variety we obtain a ruby red wine, sometimes flecked with purple with an intense licorice perfume and with under-notes of bitter almond, blackberry, cherry and a floral bouquet.
In the mouth it is dry, slightly bitter with a good body. It has low acidity, good tannins, mellowness and harmony.

The Denomination

Dolcetto d’Acqui is produced in 23 regions within the Alto Monferrato area, mainly around the two major towns of Acqui Terme and Ovada.
Dolcetto d’Acqui is produced from the variety of vine of the same name which, it is said, originates from this area. The name “Dolcetto” would imply a certain sweetness (the grape from which the wine is produced is so sweet that, in the past, it was often consumed as a dessert grape) while, in fact, it is a dry wine with a very slight bitterness.
For years, it was mistakenly thought that it was only possible to produce low alcoholic wines from this variety, wines with little body that were better drunk young. It was considered an “every day” wine but, nowadays, with new agricultural practices and different production methods, it has become one of the great wines of Piedmont. Our wine, Montestregone, has the body, tannins and alcoholic content that make it a wine of extraordinary complexity which can easily be left to age.