2022 Elio Altare Barbera d'Alba
Regular price $29.98
90 Vinous - The 2022 Barbera d'Alba is another fine entry-level offering to drink young, while the fruit remains vibrant. Dark cherry, plum, spice and new leather are nicely pushed forward in this mid-weight, slender Barbera.
The Altare family originally comes from the town of Dogliani, then in 1948 they bought the farm in La Morra. Back then, the estate covered 5 hectares of nebbiolo, barbera and dolcetto vineyards, along with some peach, hazelnut and apple trees, but those were times when orchards gave higher yield and more profit than vineyards. Faced with a severe and long lasting economic crisis in Italy, Elio along with other curious barolisti, decided to learn more about winemaking beyond the borders of Piedmont in an attempt to emulate the success that those regions were enjoying. In January 1976, they made their first trip to Burgundy and it was a revelation. When Elio got back home he knew there were major changes to be made. He wasn’t afraid: he grabbed a chainsaw as if it were a sword, and first cut down the fruit trees in the orchard. Then in the cellar he chopped up the large, traditional botti into firewood which made way for the next big revolution: Barrique.
His father Giovanni didn’t understand him. Being from an older generation and poorer times, Elios radical decisions were too far removed from his own fathers way of thinking. Giuseppe was not able to accept what he thought was an offence against common sense and tradition, and therefore sought comfort in silence. Giovanni died in 1985 and tragically disinherited Elio. Determined to fight for his beliefs, Elio continued to work to buy back the winery and vineyards from his siblings. Elio stood firm then and still does today. Stubbornly he decided to change direction and to give a different interpretation to the family’s wine – favoring elegance, finesse, and balance, following a strict regime in the vineyards, adopting new vinification and aging techniques in the cellar. As of June 2016, the ownership and supervision of the farm has officially been transferred to Elio’s daughter Silvia, who is a dynamic and passionate champion for her family business.
Shipping Policy
- Unless your delivery address is on the West Coast, we strongly discourage you from selecting “Ground Service” as your shipping method. During the winter and summer months, weather conditions (temperature) and longer delivery times can often result in the spoilage of your order. It doesn’t make sense to invest in fine wines and then take the chance of ruining them due environmental factors during transit (faster and safer delivery generally isn’t much more expensive). We don’t make an additional profit on accelerated delivery, but we frequently recommend faster shipping options to our customers outside the West Coast.
- You must be 21 years of age to order or receive alcoholic beverages. Any shipments containing alcoholic beverages are sent with an “Adult Signature Required” sticker, and the common carrier that delivers our merchandise is required to ask and check for identification upon delivery. This means that an adult will have to be present at the time of delivery. Please consider shipping to an office address.
- During periods of extreme weather, we attempt to ship wines at the beginning of each week in order to get shipments to you before the weekend. This is because we have no control over the temperature conditions at our freight carriers’ warehouses. The result may be that your shipment doesn’t go out the day that you place an order.
- We ship by Fedex or Fedex Ground. Our prices include packaging materials. Insurance may be available for an additional charge.
- Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. will arrange for shipment on behalf of the buyer, to an address specified by the buyer, provided that Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. in its sole judgment believes that such shipment will not subject Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. to the risk of any sort of legal action or other harm. If a buyer lives in a state where the direct shipment of wine by Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. violates the law, we suggest that the buyer provide an alternative address in another state or have their wine shipped to a third-party storage facility in a direct shipping-friendly state.
- Various states impose limitations on the quantity of alcoholic beverages that may be purchased and brought into their jurisdiction by a purchaser from another state without requiring the purchaser, a seller or shipper to possess certain licenses or permits. Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. does not, as a condition of sale, assume any obligation nor bear any responsibility whatsoever for applying or obtaining any permits or licenses. Therefore, we recommend that you investigate the possibility of such limitations, and determine the manner in which alcoholic beverages shall be brought into your state from California, so as to comply with all of your state’s requirements.
- Wine shipping rules in the United States are controlled by the state you live in. We do not ship wine to the following states at this time:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Delaware
Kansas - Kentucky
Louisiana - Maine
Maryland - Massachusetts
Michigan - Mississippi
Montana - Nevada
New York - North Dakota
Oklahoma - Pennsylvania
Rhode Island - South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
List Updated 2/1/2023
Please inquire about international shipping.
Vintage Wine Merchants
377 Santana Row, Suite 1135
San Jose, CA 95128
408-260-1115
