New grape for Piedmont

Barbera has been well and truly rehabilitated in Piedmont, north-west Italy, over the last decade. Now there are signs that Albarossa, a crossing of Nebbiolo and Barbera, will become more widely planted over the next few years. It was made some time ago by Giovanni Dalmasso, Italy's leading oenological authority until his death in the early 1960s but recent results of micro-fermentations at Fontanafredda are so promising that several other important growers are interested in it, including Piero Antinori (who owns Prunotto in Alba). One hectare has already been planted at Fontanafredda which will be conducting experiments on behalf of other producers.