The Barbera grape is grown widely in Piedmont. One of the best growing areas for this variety, albeit not the best-known, is the beautiful Monferrato, near the town of Asti where old vineyards of Barbera and Grignolino are mixed with meadows and cornfields (La Casaccia also produces stone-ground polenta from an heirloom variety of corn). La Casaccia is an old winery with historic cellars carved out of the solid rock beneath the winery. It was taken over recently by Giovanni Rava and his wife Elena. Their wines are carefully made and very expressive of their variety and 'territorio'. None of the wines I import from them are aged in wood, which means that the flavors from the vineyard are expressed in the bottle; they are direct, fresh and distinctive. Visit their web page here http://www.lacasaccia.biz/.

Barbera d'Asti

This wine is grown in a single vineyard in the Monferrato, which can be labelled either as Monferrato or Asti. Barbera del Monferrato was historically 'frizzante', or slightly sparkling, which this wine is not,  so in order to make the distinction, the Ravas label their Barbera as Barbera d'Asti. Barberas from the Monferrato area show a clear raspberry flavor. This expressively fruity quality is balanced by fresh acidity, making the wine broadly useful at the table. Great value.

Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese

Grignolino is a very distinctive grape variety native to Piedmont. It combines pale, Pinot-like color with mouthfilling grip and strawberry fruit flavor. It is one of the classic matches with salumi, and it also compliments a broad range of rich or flavorful foods. This version is fermented and aged in stainless steel for a direct, straightforward style. Twenty minutes in the refrigerator brings out the fruit.

Freisa

Freisa is a native Piedmontese variety with a middling red color, a broad red-fruit aroma and flavor, and a structure somewhere in between Barbera and Grignolino (moderate tannin and acidity). The Oxford Companion describes Freisa as having a 'decisively purple color (and) aroma of raspberries and violets...' and Hugh Johnson calls it 'hugely appetising,' which is in my opinion the most important point. This is a perfect everyday drinking wine to pair with substantial, flavorful food.