Barbera vs Montepulciano
Barbera
A deeply colored Piedmont red with high acidity and low tannin, best known from Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba.
- Sour cherry
- High acidity
- Low tannin
Recognize it
Deep ruby color, high acidity, low tannin, sour cherry, and plum are the key combination. It can look dark while feeling surprisingly low in tannic grip.
Montepulciano
A deeply colored central Italian red grape with plum and savory-herbal flavors, best known as the grape of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
- Deep color
- Black plum
- Savory herb
Recognize it
Deep color with ripe plum, dried herb and a savory edge. Tannin can range from rounded to firm, so use the dark fruit and savory profile together rather than one fixed structure level.
How they compare
- SimilarDeep color and juicy fruit.
- DifferenceBarbera is higher in acidity and lower in tannin.