Azienda Agricola La Fusina Barbera d'Alba 2015
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Dogliani, capital of the south-western Langhe, lies in a natural hollow surrounded by hills covered with vineyards. The culture of wine is well rooted thanks to centuries of rural tradition and to the everyday contact with vineyards and cellars. The farmhouse is the heart of life: if there are a lot of reasons and a lot of ways to approach the wine, one of these can be knowing at close the way of making wine still used in the country, that is to know and taste the wines La Fusina.
As far back as 1792, testified by an old map found in the farm’s loft, the farm La Fusina was partly cultivated with vineyards in the lands facing the sun and with grassland and wheat in the valley bottom. The actual owners, Luigi Abbona and his family, have been living in La Fusina since 1914 and from the beginning the work in the vine-rows and the making of wines have been the main activities: 18 out of the 20 hectares of the farm are in fact grown on vineyards.
Santa Lucia, where La Fusina is situated, is one of the most charming places of the Doglianese territory. The amenity and peacefulness of the country, the land particularly suitable to the vine, the favourable exposures of the vineyards, the careful work in the cellar are all elements contributing to the production of high quality wines, very versatile and and of marked personality, ready to amaze also the most exigent palates.
Friendly and approachable, Barbera produces wines in a wide range of styles, from youthful, fresh and fruity to serious, structured and age-worthy. Piedmont is the most famous source of Barbera; those from Asti and Alba garner the most praise. Barbera actually can adapt to many climates and enjoys success in some New World regions. Somm Secret—In the past it wasn’t common or even accepted to age Barbera in oak but today both styles—oaked and unoaked—abound and in fact most Piedmontese producers today produce both styles.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.