Best winemaker using Barbera Grapes

by Tony Fox
(Mooloolaba Qld)

Tony Asks:

Who is the best wine maker using Barbera grapes and what are the main regions in Australia

Darby Says:

Barbera is an underated wine in Australia, although there are about 90 producers. See the main Barbera in Australia page for a list of producers.

The variety does reasonably well in holding its acid in warmer areas so it is favoured in Hunter and Mudgee for example. It's homeland in Northern Italy suggests that it does well in cooler climates as well.

As for the best, well a couple that have impressed me over past couple of the years have been Centennial Vineyards in the Southern Highlands and Vigna Bottin in McLaren Vale. Brown Brothers also have a good one, available as a Cellar Door release. At last years AAVWS Skimstone from Mudgee and Centennial picked up gold medals. Dunn's Creek Winery in Mornington Peninsula also won a gold medal a few years ago.

Anyone else like to chip in? Leave a comment.