Giacomo Conterno: Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia 2000 – 2010

Barolo gets most of the attention at Giacomo Conterno, but the estate’s Barbera shows another equally fascinating side of the Cascina Francia vineyard.

This vertical tasting of Giacomo Conterno’s Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia was a poignant reminder that Piedmont is more than just Barolo and Barbaresco. The late Giovanni Conterno purchased Cascina Francia, a steep hillside vineyard in Serralunga, in 1974. Conterno planted Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Freisa, the typical complement of Piedmontese grapes at the time. The first vintage from Cascina Francia was 1978. Since then, Conterno's Barolos from this site, Cascina Francia and Monfortino, have gone on to establish themselves as among the most iconic wines in the world, but the Barbera is equally deserving of attention. For more, readers might enjoy this short video I shot right after the tasting.