2021 Bab's Barbera

Tasting Notes:

Soon after the California Gold Rush, settlers eyed this fertile landscape and came to plant their vineyards. This is one of the first and smallest American Viticultural Areas and has proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The morning fog softens the warm days, leaving a great temperature balance for the grapes to develop their true varietal character. This Barbera is a full-bodied wine that has a striking ruby and purple color. It encompasses a luscious fruity profile of strawberry, sour cherry, and hints of lavender. This variety has a higher acidity and a low tannin profile making for an exceptional wine to enjoy young.

Appellation Notes: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

Here’s the thing you need to know about Sonoma County: While it is roughly an hour north of San Francisco, encompassing a vast area of crazy mixed-up soils amidst valleys, hills, and coastal plains, Sonoma County is NOT an AVA itself. Sorry. However, it contains…(drum roll)....19 AVAs within its boundaries! Spanning 76 miles of the California coast from Annapolis and Cloverdale in the north to Petaluma, Sonoma, and Carneros in the south, the region is home to more than 425 wineries, according to the internet. We did not attempt to count them. We enjoy the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from here, as well as more structured and sophisticated Cabernet Sauvignon wines (they don’t shout as loudly as Cabernet from neighboring Napa County), and also Zinfandel, Merlot, and Syrah. The region's unique terroir is insanely complicated. If you want to know more about the soils and climate, we suggest you enroll in classes at U.C. Davis. Wikipedia entries are not to be trusted.