Dehydrated blueberry, Spanish jasmine, black fig. Dense blackberry, wilted violet, salted plum. Dried cranberry and cactus pear, silky white chocolate and a touch of carmelized oak. Sunflower seeds seasoned with thyme and nutmeg tossed in a bag full of dark dense dried fruit. A trail-mix snack break on a hike though sandy chaparral, as light rain and petrichor scents fill the air. This 2015 Estate Barbera by Seghesio Family Vineyards shows Italian roots but is Californian through and through.

Edoardo Seghesio left his native Italy in the 1890's for a fresh start in California. He made his new home on a ranch in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County. As an Italian from the famous Piedmont region of Italy he naturally planted grape vines on his new ranch, most of which were Zinfandel and other varietals common to the Sonoma area at the time. However in an ode to his homeland Edoardo planted a special section of his vineyard to Barbera. This extraordinary vineyard still exists today, and Edoardo's descendants at Seghesio Family Vineyards are making him proud with the terrific wine they have been crafting from it all these years. This 2015 vintage bottling is terrificly structured and stylish with a more substantial dark fruit profile than you might expect from Italian Barbera. It has a unique underpinning of earth, sand, & wood that complement its dark berries, balanced acidity, and mellow tannin. If you're into California fruit and Italian gastronomy then this Barbera should do just the trick. Grab your plate of ravioli and enjoy!