Pedemontis Betlem Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2021 is a rich, structured Italian red wine from a single vineyard in Piedmont. Made entirely from Barbera grapes grown on the Betlemme hillside near Priocca, it combines concentrated black plum and blackberry flavours with an elegant palate and a generous, lingering finish. Eleven months of oak maturation adds complexity to this expressive interpretation of Barbera, while retaining the grape's distinctive character.
 
Pedemontis is a family-owned estate with a strong commitment to sustainable agriculture and the restoration of neglected land across the Roero and Langhe hills. Its wider holdings encompass vineyards, forests, truffle grounds and hazelnut groves, with an approach that encourages biodiversity and a close relationship between agriculture and the surrounding environment. One of the estate's more unusual practices involves a herd of donkeys grazing naturally between the vines, helping manage vegetation and return organic matter to the soil.
 
Betlem takes its name from the one-hectare Betlemme vineyard, situated on a hillside in the commune of Priocca, close to San Damiano d'Asti. The vineyard lies approximately 270 metres above sea level, with a south-westerly exposure that encourages ripening. Its predominantly calcareous soils contain limestone, sand, clay and other mineral formations, providing the growing conditions for this single-varietal Barbera. The Guyot-trained vines are cultivated with minimal intervention, and the grapes are harvested by hand in the early morning.
 
In the winery, the grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless-steel tanks using naturally occurring yeasts. Four weeks of fermentation and skin contact, accompanied by gentle pump-overs, help develop colour, flavour and structure. Following malolactic conversion, the wine matures for 11 months, with 70% aged in French oak tonneaux and the remaining 30% in barrels. The warm, predominantly dry conditions of the 2021 growing season helped achieve good fruit ripeness, resulting in a Barbera with depth, richness and a well-defined structure.
 
Pedemontis Betlem is a particularly interesting choice for those looking beyond everyday Barbera towards a more substantial, oak-matured expression. Its concentrated dark fruit, structured palate and generous finish make it well suited to hearty Italian cooking and richly flavoured dishes.
 
Tasting Notes
 
Nose: Intense aromas of black plum and blackberry.
Palate: Rich and concentrated, with dark fruit character and an elegant yet structured mouthfeel.
Finish: Generous and lingering, with a satisfying richness.
 
Serving Recommendation & Food Pairing:
 
Serve at approximately 16–18°C in a generous red wine glass. Allowing the wine some time to open up will help its dark fruit aromas and structured character develop.
 
Its concentration, richness and oak maturation make it a natural partner for slow-cooked beef, roast lamb, braised meats and mushroom-based dishes. It would also work particularly well with rich tomato-based pasta, baked pasta dishes and mature hard cheeses.
 
For a regional pairing, try it with tajarin pasta served with a rich meat ragù, or with braised beef and polenta.