There are many truly wonderful Italian red wines. We’ve spoken at length about many of them, including the true greats like Chianti and Barolo. And yet, there are not many red grape varieties that are versatile enough to make both wonderful still reds and sparkling wines that provide a completely different experience.
The Brachetto grape is one of them.
This grape is native to the Piedmont region, though it is perhaps one of that region’s most underappreciated grapes. Here, we’re going to give it the attention that it deserves so that you can understand more about its history and why the Brachetto D’Acqui wine made using this grape should be next on the list of Italian wines to add to your collection.
The History Of The Grape
Brachetto D’Acqui was made a DOCG wine in 1996. Prior to that, it had held DOC status since 1969, making it one of the first Italian wines to achieve this important milestone. Those facts alone should tell you just how special this wine is, as so few Italian red wines are able to achieve the DOCG designation that marks out Brachetto D’Acqui as one of the best the country has to offer.
But let’s dig back further.
Nobody truly knows the exact origins of this remarkable wine.
Some legends suggest that the grape dates back to the days of Ancient Rome. One of these states that both Marc Antony and Julius Caesar presented the legendary Queen Cleopatra with several gourds of a wine called vinum acquense, which some will tell you was made using the same grape that producers now use to create Brachetto D’Acqui.
However, others dispute these types of legends. In fact, some question whether the grape is even native to Piedmont at all. Ever since the early 19th century, ampelographers have considered the possibility that the grape was actually French in origin, with it only making its way to the Piedmont region because of traders.
Still, these disputes do nothing to detract from the fact that many records from hundreds of years ago seem to indicate that a wine made using the Brachetto grape was present in Piedmont.
Take, for example, the old Italian traditional theatre style of Commedia dell’arte. This art form was popular between the 16th and 18th centuries and featured a main masked character named Gianduja de Gioan j’Iaduja, otherwise known as Giovanni of the Jug.
Giovanni’s wine of choice.
Brachetto D’Acqui.
This means we can date the wine back to the 16th century at least.
And then there are more legends. Building from the story of the gift of the wine to Cleopatra, there are others that state the great Egyptian pharaoh loved the wine so much because she believed that it unleashed the passion of her lovers, which is surely why her two great lovers presented it to her. Perhaps this is also why Brachetto D’Acqui has developed something of a reputation for being a great wine to give to somebody on Valentine’s Day.
There are also written records of the vinum acquense wine mentioned earlier that date back to Roman times.
So, we can likely safely conclude that Brachetto has existed in the Piedmont region for hundreds of years. It may even date back as far as the Roman era. However, the one bone of contention seems to be whether it has French or Italian origins. Regardless of the real truth of the matter, there is no denying now that Brachetto is one of the most important grapes in the Piedmont region.
The DOCG Regulations
As mentioned, Brachetto D’Acqui is a DOCG wine. Of course, that means that producers must follow some very sturdy regulations for their wines to carry the DOCG certification.
The region is the most important.
Brachetto D’Acqui can only be a DOCG wine if the grapes come from the zone that covers the Monferrato Hills and extends slightly into Asti. This region includes several valleys that surround the Belbo and Bormida rivers, though the majority of the grapes made for the wine are grown in Strevi and Acqui Terme.
Next up is the grape volume of the wine.
A Brachetto D’Acqui cannot receive DOCG classification if it contains anything other than Brachetto grapes. What’s more, the DOCG states that only grapes that are harvested at a rate of 8 tonnes per hectare of land can receive the designation. This ensures that producers are limited to only using the best quality grapes for their wines. A higher tonnage would mean that producers could handily grow far more of the grape, which would reduce the quality of the resulting wine.
Finally, we have alcohol volume.
The DOCG sets minimum limits of 6% for spumante versions of the wine and 5% for frizzante. However, the grapes must be used at a level of ripeness that allows up to 12% volume for spumante and 11.5% for frizzante.
What Can You Expect From The Wine?
Now that you know so much about Brachetto D’Acqui, the next natural question is what can you expect if you decide to indulge in the wine.
Brachetto D’Acqui has been beloved for its sweetness since ancient Roman times, so you can expect a wine that is sweeter than most famous Italian reds. This sweetness is complemented by both fruity and floral notes, which combine to create a gorgeous bouquet. In fact, many point to the wine’s aroma as one of the best things about it. There are also favourable comparisons made to the flavour profiles of Lambrusco and Moscato d’Asti.
As for pairing, the wine’s sweetness means it’s ideal for complementing desserts, such as chocolate. This may be another reason why Brachetto D’Acqui is so widely loved as a Valentine’s Day wine. After all, the combination of chocolates and wine is sure to make anybody happy.
So, now that you know what to expect, there is only one more question to answer:
Where can you get your hands on Brachetto D’Acqui?
There are many versions of the wine in Xtrawine collection. But our choice would have to be the Banfi Brachetto d’Acqui Rosa Regale 2021, which provides all of the fruity and floral notes the wine is so famous for while balancing them with refreshing acidity. Find it today on the Xtrawine website for less than €12.
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