Many believe Barbera originated in the gently sloping hills of Monferrato, in central Piedmont Italy. Extremely rare here in the California Barbera has less than 1,000 cases produced annually. Being so uncommon makes finding an excellent version akin to the proverbial four-leaf clover.

Craveyon CloudWines’ Cravers did all the hard lifting on this one. Craveyon’s Barbera 4a 2015 is ready for consumption, no lucky rabbit feet necessary. (1 million California rabbits heave a giant sign of relief).

Italy-Piedmont region-Barbera vineyard

1. Back in its home of Italy, Barbera is known as the “Wine of the People!”

Barbera is often associated with the Nebbiolo grape and its expensive wines the Barolo and Barbaresco. Yet these wines have high of tannin levels and requires time to age. This is where Barbera shines!  You do not need to sit around and wait for it to age. After it is made, you can drink it with dinner tonight!

2. Low natural tannin level makes it a good match for individuals with a sensitive constitution

As mentioned in #1 above Barbera can be enjoyed at a very young age.  This is because its tannin levels are very low.

3. Strawberry and sour cherry flavor notes allow it to count as fruit salad, right?

A great fruity treat with Barbera is that you get these sweet flavors because it is a light bodied wine.  This wine's low tannins and high acidity make it taste juicy.

4. Treat Barbera like Beaujolais, no aging required.

Beaujolais wines are young, versatile, light with heady aromas. They are easy drinking wines for any occasions and take you from appetizers to seafood to barbecue.

5. Barbera’s bright acidity can highlight one pony show dishes

The bright acidity in this wine makes fatty or high tannin dish complete. Pair this wine with rich dark meats, mushrooms, herbs, smelly cheeses like blue cheese, higher tannin foods like root vegetables and cooked greens.

6. Barbera is light enough to be your summer date well after your Cabernet Sauvignon has been put in the cellar

Unlike the boldness of a Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is light, fun and can be drunk at a young age, which makes it the perfect summer red wine.

7. Barbera has been served at royal and papal tables alike

Famous in Italy before the Renaissance this wine was known as the ‘people’s wine.' Even though it was popular with the "everyday people," there is documented evidence that Barbera was also popular with the upper classes in Italy where it was served at the papal court of the Catholic Church and royal tables.

8. Historically Barbera has been blended with fancier wines to borrow its amazing ruby color and high acidity

It is often blended with wine varieties that lack great color and high acid, creating a more balanced and softer wine.

9. Barbera vines loves clay soil with plenty of water drainage

This is grape vine is perfect for clayey hillsides.  It loves clay and the excellent water drainage the slopes provide.

10. A dark and forbidden history haunt this wine like an Internet meme of an awkward middle school photo.

It is claimed that this variety is 1,000 years older than Cabernet Sauvignon. So with that history, there's bound to be many great stories surrounding it.

• It is, allegedly, the grape written about by Paul the Deacon in his description of the Battle of Refrancore in 663 when the troops of Grimaldo defeated the Franks after getting them drunk
  He confirmed that the troops of Grimaldo filled large two-handled storage jugs with wine and scattered them around the surrounding fields. When the Franks found these jugs, and they drank all the wine greedily making them unfit for battle.
• The Piedmont region was stunned by a scandal In 1985
  Barbera producers were illegally adding methanol to their wines. This killed over 30 people and causing more to go blind.