The red grape variety originates from Italy. The name is derived from "Berberis", an alcoholic drink made from barberry berries with a tart flavour. Synonyms are Barbera Amaro, Barbera a Peduncolo Rosso, Barbera a Peduncolo Verde, Barbera a Raspo Rosso, Barbera a Raspo Verde, Barbera Amaro, Barbera Black, Barbera Crna, Barbera d'Asti, Barbera di Piemonte, Barbera Dolce, Barbera Fina, Barbera Forte, Barbera Grossa, Barbera Mercantile, Barbera Nera, Barbera Nera a Caule Rosso, Barbera Nera a Caule Verde, Barbera Noir, Barbera Nostrana, Barbera Riccia, Barbera Rossa, Barbera Vera, Barberone, Gaietto, Nigruz, Lombardesca, Olivella and Sciaa.
Origin
There are a number of legends surrounding the origins of this certainly very old variety. It is said to have been introduced to Piedmont by the Lombards in the 7th century. A document from the municipality of Casale Monferrato in 1255 mentions a variety called "bonis vitibus barbexinis". However, this is probably Berbesino, a synonym for Grignolino. The scholar Petrus de Crescentiis (1230-1320) mentioned a variety called Grissa in his work published in 1304, which may have been Barbera.
