Utah Stories

Bargain Barbera

Santa Guistina Barbera is, to me, the quintessential pizza wine, although it’s also very good paired with red meat pasta sauces and even a good ol’ American cheeseburger. It’s very fresh tasting with bright flavors of raspberry, cherry and strawberry with hints of black pepper. It’s both easy on the palate and on the pocketbook. 

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One of my favorite wine suppliers is Utah-based Bon Vivant Imports. Whenever I see Bon Vivant on a wine bottle label I know that the wine will be terrific and that it will usually be a good value. That is especially true of this week’s wine: Santa Guistina Barbera. It is an absolute steal priced at a mere $8.99. 

In case you’re not familiar with Italy’s Barbera wines, they are known as the “wine of the people.” That is, they are easy to love, inexpensive and meant to be enjoyed young. This isn’t a wine you’ll cellar for decades. This particular Barbera comes from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and is made from 100% Barbera grapes. 

Santa Guistina Barbera is, to me, the quintessential pizza wine, although it’s also very good paired with red meat pasta sauces and even a good ol’ American cheeseburger. It’s very fresh tasting with bright flavors of raspberry, cherry and strawberry with hints of black pepper. It’s both easy on the palate and on the pocketbook. 

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Food writer Ted SchefflerOriginally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.

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