Albarossa, a cross between Barbera and Nebbiolo!

Bricco di Guazzi Albarossa… but what kind of grape is Albarossa? Good question, but above all, how does it taste? A masterpiece with 4 stars on Vivino! Close to a full-bodied red wine! Powerful, balanced, full, complex. Intense nose of blueberries, coffee, and a hint of leather. So, what is it: a cross between two important grape varieties in Piedmont: Nebbiolo and Barbera.

If you are looking for the characteristics of Nebbiolo, such as a pale color with an orange tint in the glass, or aromas of tar and roses, or angular edges and high tannins, you will be disappointed. Albarossa has a distinct personality, intense and soft in taste. So forget Nebbiolo, approach the Albarossa with an open mind, and go for it! In color, it is a deep and opaque ruby ​​red with some deep purple glints. Aromas of blueberries and red currants, with accents of roasted coffee and leather discernible. Although unmistakably full and powerful, the balance of fruit and acidity masks the alcohol, and there is no excessive warmth on the palate. Naturally, it pairs very well with a fine piece of wine. Italiaans gebraad. 

The birth of the Albarossa

It is a relatively unknown Italian red grape variety, primarily grown in Piedmont, Northern Italy. Piedmont is famous for Nebbiolo (think of Barolo and Barbaresco) and Barbera. And that is an indication of this high-quality grape variety with an interesting backstory. While many Italian examples have an ancient origin, from mutations and natural selection, Albarossa does not. Instead, it is a modern creation from plant breeding. In 1938, Dr. Giovanni Dalmasso looked into crossing Nebbiolo with Barbera. The idea was to create a new variety that would have the quality of Nebbiolo, but with the ease of cultivation and productivity of Barbera. However, it turned out that it was not the Nebbiolo. Instead, it was the unrelated (but visually similar) Nebbiolo di Dronero***. That variety is now called Chatus to reduce confusion!

However, this story has a happy and successful ending. After controlled trials and tests, the cross, initially known as Incrocio Dalmasso 13.26, was renamed Albarossa and was not approved for planting until 2001. Nevertheless, it quickly achieved DOC status in 2010. By now, about eighty hectares have been planted, 80% of which is in Piedmont, mostly around Monferrato. The remaining 20% ​​is mainly next door in Lombardy. Moreover, several producers have adopted Albarossa, including Banfi, Prunotto, and Michele Chiarlo. Bricco dei Guazi has the best example we have come across and therefore ordered it quickly!

Bricco dei Guazzi

Wine production at Bricco dei Guazzi dates back to at least 1400, with cellars built in the fifteenth century, modernized in the seventeenth century, and again recently. Unfortunately, it is an area with little rainfall. However, there are old vaulted cisterns at the winery to collect rainwater, so you could say that this winery has been sustainable for centuries! It is situated on a hilltop (hence the name Bricco) at an altitude of 260 meters and has 40 hectares of vineyards. In addition to the expected reds, Barbera and Merlot, there is also Cortese (for Gavi di Gavi) and Chardonnay for the whites. Five hectares of Albarossa are located on the south-facing slopes, where the white, calcareous soils reflect sunlight right down to the vines. Five hectares doesn't sound like much, but it makes Bricco dei Guazzi a major producer of Albarossa. Try that Bricco di Guazzi Albarossa for yourself!