Nizza DOCG. A 100% Barbera wine is the new interpretation of Barbera d’Asti, growned in the heart of Monferrato.

In this small area that used to be Barbera d’Asti DOCG it’s certainly exciting to find oneself in the middle of the new appellation being born. Nizza DOCG is one of those new names on the Piedmont wine map — the application was born in 2014 and first wines under the new 100%Barbera appellation are of the 2016 vintage which I was lucky enough to taste recently.

The official regulations for the Nizza DOCG zone state that it covers 18 communes: Agliano Terme, Belveglio, Calamandrana, Castel Boglione, Castelnuovo Belbo, Castelnuovo Calcea, Castel Rocchero, Cortiglione, Incisa Scapaccino, Mombaruzzo, Mombercelli, Nizza Monferrato, Vaglio Serra, Vinchio, Bruno, Rocchetta Palafea, Moasca and San Marzano Oliveto. Those are, in fact, locations around small villages all of which have their own soul and a unique character.  The name of Nizza had been showing up on local wine labels for some time already, but not as a DOCG. The producers of those communes have now the ability to showcase their more quality wines than those of Barbera d’Asti DOCG, of which Nizza used to be a part of.

Talking quality parameters, the minimum requirements for the Nizza DOCG are quite straightforward: 100%Barbera (while Barbera d’Asti DOCG allows some other grapes in), 7 tonnes of grapes per hectare (9 for Barbera d’Asti) and a minimum barrel again of 6 months in Nizza DOCG (12 months for Nizza DOCG Reserve).

Travel here and you’ll find that Nizza has been showing nice results for some time already: most quality wines possess great drinkability and carry nice gastronomic potential, which means they will not evade food pairing. I found a nice touch of complexity and longuetivity in examples like La Gironda Barbera d’Asti Superiore Nizza 2012 from Le Nicchie which offers tons of minerality, dry earth and sweet fruit. Great acidity, maybe even too much, good juicy structure. Nice sample to pair with food. On the other hand, an extremely sexy and deep Arbiola / Romilda XVI Barbera d’Asti Superiore Nizza 2011 intrigues with spices, herbs, black fruit and a sweetish vanilla aftertaste.

Stefano Chiarlo of Michele Chiarlo winery can easily be considered a Nizza apologist: his single vineyard Barbera — La Court Barbera d’Asti Superiore Nizza 2012 — is the benchmark for the newly born DOCG potential: with red fruit and roses jumping out of the glass, this wine showcases polished tannins and a lively juiciness balanced by nice oak and peppery notes.

An ingeniously balanced, elegant and refreshing Nizza Barbera is produced by the DaCapo winery — just try their Vigna Dacapo Barbera d’Asti Superiore Nizza 2011, pushing forward notes of leather, spices, cigar box and pepper.

This wine is alive for sure! On the animal side Guasti Clemente’s Barcarato’ Barbera d’Asti Superiore Nizza 2011 is a spicy herbal, minty liquid with a pleasant rustic character and a hint of very attractive  astringency.

And why on Earth not? The wine faces of Nizza DOCG are so many, but all 100%Barbera!

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