Barbera d'Asti Biologico Terre da Vino: simplicity and accessibility

Far from wine shops and with no time to visit wineries, I ended up in a shopping centre: a place those of us in the industry don't love, but where perhaps most consumers actually shop.
We discussed it in our ABC del vino guide – in large retail chains (GDO), bottles are not handled with care but are often treated like any old tin of tuna! I therefore wanted to buy products that weren't particularly expensive but were still good.
I picked up three types of Barbera, a Freisa, a Ruchè, a Grignolino and a Moscato d'Asti, and searched (in vain) for an Alta Langa.
When I chose the wine I'm about to tell you about, I was looking for something simple to enjoy at ease with any kind of dining companion; I wanted something to pair with red meats and cold cuts, but also with chestnuts I was really craving; I was in Piemonte and was looking, naturally, for something Piedmontese.

I know well the enormous operation that is Terre da Vino, a winery in Barolo that churns out quite a few wines every year! Frankly, I would never have bought this Barbera d'Asti had it not been for the label (yes, I fall for it too sometimes!) featuring a bee embracing a bunch of grapes and prominently displaying the words "Prodotto da uve Bio" – here is a deeper look at how to read the organic wine label. The price was around 5 euros and I decided it was worth the gamble!
A great lover of wine and beer whom I have the pleasure of knowing once said something very wise to me: "You can't always drink complex things – in summer, for example, I drink enormous amounts of commercial industrial lager" (he actually named the brand, which I prefer to omit). I think exactly as he does – everything has its moment!
Let's get to our wine, bought with the usual scepticism that defines me.
A deep, almost impenetrable ruby red colour; on the nose nothing off-putting, a few clear aromas and little else: sour cherry, plum, wild berries. On the palate dry, well-balanced with a pleasant, non-cloying tannin; the body is a touch on the light side, but the wine goes down easily.
Excellent paired with hand-carved prosciutto crudo, salame felino, olives, grana padano and roasted chestnuts – the partners for a relaxed evening.
If you're looking for something simple, if you just want to nibble on something in mixed company (not necessarily among connoisseurs), if you're at the supermarket and don't want to waste money: this is a product that might be just right for you.