Ercole Barbera del Monferrato 2023 1L
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The Land
Piedmont—Italy’s northwestern crown jewel—is framed by the Alps to the north and west and cradled by the Apennines to the south, creating a protective amphitheater for viticulture. This is a land of fog and sun, where altitude, diurnal shifts, and varied soils converge to produce wines of clarity, character, and structure. While the region is globally revered for its noble reds like Barolo and Barbaresco, it’s also home to Barbera—a grape that, in the right hands and soils, delivers wines of impressive vibrancy and soul.
Monferrato, located southeast of Turin and flanking the provinces of Alessandria and Asti, is one of Piedmont’s most historic and diverse growing zones. Unlike the Langhe, where Nebbiolo dominates, Barbera takes center stage here, especially on the south-facing slopes that soak up the late summer sun. The calcareous-clay soils of these hills bring both structure and generosity to the wines. It’s here, in the birthplace of Barbera, that Ercole Barbera del Monferrato comes to life.
The Wine
The 2023 vintage is 100% Barbera, a grape celebrated for its naturally high acidity and vivid fruit profile. Fermented in concrete and stabilized in stainless steel, the wine remains unadorned and expressive—no oak, no frills, just a pure snapshot of variety and place. It’s juicy yet structured, with flavors of wild cherry, black plum, violets, and a subtle earthy undertone. The acidity is bright but balanced, cutting through the ripe fruit with energy and lift. This is everyday red wine with depth—a liter bottle built for the table, but deserving of real attention.
The People
Behind Ercole is a cooperative of small growers, many of whom farm old vines between 30 and 50 years of age. They work the land with care, following sustainable practices rooted in lotta integrata(reasoned struggle), with minimal copper and sulfur use and no synthetic treatments. Their fruit is not commodified but honored—transformed with minimal intervention and bottled with full traceability and vegan certification.
Ercole—named after Hercules—is a tribute to these unsung viticultural heroes. Spearheaded by The Piedmont Guy, whose singular focus on Piedmont has connected global drinkers with the region’s deep well of tradition and talent, this wine represents more than value—it represents authenticity. In every liter, you get not only a vibrant red wine, but also an honest representation of the land, legacy, and labor that brought it into being.
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Piedmont, framed by the Alps in northwestern Italy, is a land of rolling hills and carefully cultivated vineyards. The continental climate, with its cold winters and warm summers, creates prime conditions for the Nebbiolo grape, which dominates much of the region's red wine production. The Langhe area is home to Barolo and Barbaresco, structured red wines known for their complex aromas, firm tannins, and aging potential. While Nebbiolo is the dominant grape of Piedmont, the region also makes interesting white wines like those from Arneis and Timorasso. Alto Piemonte is a separate region in the north with its own distinctive expressions of Nebbiolo, alongside other red grape varietals.
Italy - Piedmont
Piedmont's 2nd red grape behind Nebbiolo, Barbera is easy to enjoy and versitile with its low tannins and fleshy fruit. High acidity also makes it food-friendly, and flavors range from tart red berries to exotically ripe purple fruits.
Barbera
Practicing Organic vineyard farming involves growing grapes using organic methods—avoiding synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides—but without formal certification. Wineries adopting this approach prioritize environmental health, soil vitality, and biodiversity, using natural practices such as composting, cover cropping, and manual pest control. Many small wineries opt for practicing organic methods rather than pursuing official organic certification, primarily due to the significant cost, paperwork, and time commitment involved in certification processes. As a result, practicing organic is a popular choice among boutique and artisanal producers who remain committed to sustainable agriculture while managing budgetary constraints.
