Producer · Piedmont, Italy

Cantina di Nizza

Cantina di Nizza is a co-operative founded in 1955, with 200 members and 550 hectares of vines around Nizza Monferrato in Piedmont. This is Barbera country: it makes up over 60 per cent of the grapes the co-op takes in.

In Alba the best sites go to Nebbiolo, but in Asti that honour goes to Barbera. Matt Thomson of Blank Canvas made wine here around 15 years ago, and after more than a decade making Barbera in the area he reckons no part of Asti has better Barbera vineyards than Nizza.

Both wines are Barbera d'Asti. One is bottled young to keep Barbera's lovely zip. A Superiore from the oldest vines on the best sites spends about six months in large oak and has more structure.

Winery at Nizza Monferrato, Piedmont · Barbera · £16.49 to £17.99 a bottle