# Barbera d'Alba (2022)

- **Producer:** Azienda Agricola Olek Bondonio
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Barbera
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, strawberry, fennel, herbaceous, bread, leather, forest floor, mushroom

## About this wine

Azienda Agricola Olek Bondonio is located in the historic La Berchialla farmhouse in Barbaresco, Piedmont, which has been in Olek's family for over two centuries. Olek, a former Italian national champion snowboarder, returned to his roots to become the estate's first full-time vigneron, carrying on a legacy that dates back to his great-great-grandfather, a founder of the Cantina Sociale di Barbaresco in 1894. Managing just 7 hectares of vineyards entirely by hand, Olek champions a traditional, low-intervention approach. This Barbera d'Alba is sourced from the prized, high-altitude Altavilla vineyard, featuring old vines aged between 40 and 80 years. Olek treats this Barbera with the same reverence as his top-tier Barbaresco Crus, resulting in a wine of remarkable depth and character that stands out in the region.

## Interesting facts

- Founder Olek Bondonio was a professional and national champion snowboarder in Italy before returning to his family's historic estate.
- The wine is sourced from the high-altitude Altavilla vineyard, featuring exceptionally old Barbera vines aged between 40 and 80 years.
- Olek's great-great-grandfather was one of the original founders of the Cantina Sociale di Barbaresco in 1894.

## Food pairing

This Barbera's high acidity and robust body make it an exceptional partner for rich, fatty, and savory dishes. The vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of slow-cooked meats, buttery pastas, and cheeses, cleansing the palate. Meanwhile, the earthy undertones of the wine beautifully complement rustic, forest-floor flavors like wild mushrooms and truffles, while its low tannins ensure it doesn't clash with savory, salty elements.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Olek Bondonio is defined by a hands-off, traditional philosophy. Grapes from the certified organic Altavilla vineyard are hand-harvested with strict selection. Spontaneous fermentation is carried out using only indigenous yeasts in stainless steel or traditional concrete tanks. Maceration on the skins is extended, lasting from 14 days up to a full month to extract depth and structure. The grapes are gently pressed using a traditional manual basket press. Following spontaneous malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for 8 to 12 months in large, traditional 1,600-liter Slavonian oak casks (botti) and steel tanks. Bottled entirely by gravity, the wine is unfined and unfiltered, with minimal sulfur added only at bottling to preserve its natural expression.