The Savoy dynasty, which ruled the Kingdom of Sardinia in the 19th century, centered its power in Piedmont, Italy. The grape that adorned the Savoy court's table was Nebbiolo, a representative indigenous variety of Piedmont. King Carlo Alberto especially enjoyed Barolo wine made from Nebbiolo.
Marchioness Giulia Colbert Falletti of the Barolo area sent wine in hundreds of barrels so that Barolo could be served at the king's table every day except during Lent. This anecdote is cited as a symbolic turning point in which Barolo grew alongside aristocratic culture and became established as the "wine of kings."
But the tables at the farmhouses outside the walls were different. The high-priced Nebbiolo had to be sold at market immediately after harvest or paid as tribute to the royal court. What accompanied the daily lives of farmers was the Barbera variety. It grew well even in poor soils, its high acidity made it keep well, and it paired nicely with simple meals like bread and cheese. For this reason, in Piedmont there is an expression comparing Nebbiolo as "the wine for special days" and Barbera as "the wine of everyday life."
For many years, the variety that represented Piedmont red wine was Nebbiolo. Its reputation was driven in the Barolo and Barbaresco regions, where it shows outstanding aging capacity and firm structure. Barbera, favored by ordinary people, was long regarded as a lightly consumed table wine because of its high acidity and large yields.
Change emerged after the 1990s. As producers boldly reduced yields, used selected grapes, and introduced precise oak aging, evaluations shifted. Barbera began to be reinterpreted as a variety that combines food-friendly acidity with fruit flavors, and it is gaining attention as another red wine that expresses Piedmont's natural environment.
One example that shows this trend is the Cascina Piancanelli winery. Piancanelli is a family-run winery located in Loazzolo in the Asti area of Italy. Enologist Silvio Raiolo, the founder's third-generation descendant, oversees the entire process from grape growing to bottling and produces wine using only grapes harvested from the estate's own vineyards.
Piancanelli Barbera d'Asti Somnium (Somnium Barbera d'Asti DOCG) is the winery's signature Barbera. Somnium means "dream" in Latin. The name reflects the winery's aspiration to elevate Barbera—once regarded only as the people's drink—into a world-class wine.
The winery owns about 20 hectares of vineyards, which sit at an altitude of around 300 meters. Soils mixed with tuff and marl drain well and encourage deep root systems, completing a complex mineral profile. Abundant sunlight on the southeast-facing slopes ripens the grapes fully, while the cool climate helps preserve Barbera's signature acidity. Vines averaging about 20 years old yield concentrated flavors.
The winemaking is a study in precision, designed to gently polish Barbera's acidity and stabilize texture. After harvest, the grapes are crushed, then undergo fermentation and maceration for about 12 to 15 days at 26 degrees Celsius. Malolactic fermentation follows, then four months of aging on the lees. After that, the wine ages for about eight months in French oak Barrels. It matures in Barrels from Allier, Tronçais, and Vosges, with 30% new oak used to build structure and the remainder in 2- to 4-year-old barrels to impart subtle nuances. After bottling, it undergoes at least two additional months of aging before release.
In the glass, it shows a deep garnet hue. Ripe cherry and redcurrant lead the red-fruit aromas, followed by vanilla, toast, and a delicate cocoa nuance from aging. Vivid acidity frames the structure and carries a long finish. It pairs well with aged cheeses, pasta, and a range of roasted and grilled meat dishes. It won the grand prize in the Old World red wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. The importer in Korea is P&S Wine Company.