Elevating Barbera to a New Level, the Nizza DOCG Wines of Frasca La Guaragna
​June 13, 2026

Barbera is well-known as an approachable and excellent food pairing wine, but until recently, ended up playing second fiddle to the more illustrious red wine of Piemonte, Nebbiolo. Generous fruit, bright acidity and gentle tannins are the hallmarks of Barbera, as is found in Barbera d’Asti and Barbera d’Alba. But over a decade ago, Barbera from the Monferrato region was awarded their own DOCG, Nizza, recognized for its deeper expression, concentration and complexity. Since then, a lot of excitement has swirled around the potential of Nizza Barbera, and a new winery was born, Frasca La Guaragna, that was dedicated to promoting these wines. Recently, I had the opportunity to learn about their story and taste the wines through a virtual Zoom tasting, courtesy of Studio Cru, with the team behind the brand.

Curt Frasca and Matteo Gerbi walk the vineyards, Courtesy of Frasca La Guaragna

It was in this narrative, and a handshake deal, that Frasca La Guaragna came into being. Curt Frasca, an Italian-American music producer, who fell in love with the Nizza Monferrato area during his travels, was introduced to respected local winemaker Matteo Gerbi in 2017. The two men discovered they shared a similar vision and philosophy about winemaking, and in 2018, they forged ahead with their project, establishing a winery, and purchasing over 60 acres of vineyards that had to meet a very strict criteria. It wasn’t easy, Frasca and Gerbi explored over 600 acres of vineyards across the 18 villages in the Nizza DOCG, to find the right soils, clones, and microclimates. The four vineyard plots are within 3 miles of each other, sustainably farmed to give life to the vineyards, but not organically certified, respecting the “circle of life”, as Gerbi says.

Old vine La Veja vineyard, Courtesy of Frasca La Guaragna

Low yields from old vines, La Veja Vineyard, Courtesy of Frasca La Guaragna

​Nizza DOCG must be 100% Barbera, and is tightly regulated, mandating low yields and aging requirements. Frasca and Gerbi were aligned in their desire to produce a style of wine that was powerful and complex, yet remained fresh and vibrant, respecting tradition while being an age-worthy candidate as well.

The team behind Frasca La Guaragna, Courtesy of Frasca La Guaragna

Courtesy of Frasca La Guaragna

​They weren’t the only ones that were passionate about this project, as Federico Raviola, Sales Director for Frasca La Guaragna, noted, “Barbera is in our veins, in our blood. In Frasca, we were joining something special, sharing the same values, and believing in the potential of Nizza Barbera.” David Giuliano, Italian portfolio manager for Regal Wine Imports, mused, “For a long time it was a curiosity, the elevated potential for Nizza took center stage, where in other areas, Barbera is the secondary wine. But here, in Nizza, extraordinary vineyards of old vines and clonal diversity produced more structural Barbera, yet still juicy and bright, fruit-driven with mild tannins.” As an importer, Giuliano observed that consumers are ready for a deeper expression of Barbera, and the whole project has become a “juggernaut”, with other producers buying vineyards, “the future never seemed brighter for this appellation.”

Winemaker Matteo Gerbi, Courtesy of Frasca La Guaragna

Winemaker Matteo Gerbi tasting the "Sej" white wine, Courtesy of Frasca La Guaragna

​Winemaker Matteo Gerbi wants Frasca La Guaragna “to be the flagship of Nizza”, making delicious wines whose”common thread is equilibrium”. We tasted through four wines, two of which were Nizza Barbera DOCG, but all painted a picture of the evolution of the Monferrato area. And speaking of pictures, the labels display different abstract art that depict the essence of the wine.

​The Frasca La Guaragna “Sèj” Monferrato DOC Bianco 2024 is a blend of 85% Arneis and 15% Rhine Riesling. “Sèj” means thirst in the Piemontese dialect, and this mouthwatering white wine has good body and acidity, minerality and salinity with a fruity edge of peach and aromas of white flowers, a very refreshing wine.

​The Frasca La Guaragna Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2022 is a blend of four plots in Nizza, a harvest of the best grapes, that is made to maximize the aromatic nose and fresh delicate flavor of Barbera. With a long maceration and a temperature-controlled fermentation in steel, the essence of Nizza Barbera is there, its rich red fruit flavors swirl within a soft pleasing body.

​The Frasca La Guaragna Nizza DOCG 2021 is concentrated and structured, yet balanced with a delicate elegance that spotlights Barbera from Nizza. This wine is so very representative of the Nizza project, balanced structure and characteristic acidity, very good Barbera that reflects the terroir, and is made to age.

The Frasca La Guaragna “La Veja” Nizza DOCG 2021 is distinguished by coming from a single vineyard of 97-year-old vines, “La Veja” translating to “the old lady”. The vineyard is in very good condition, with a mix of clones, and produces very concentrated and rich wines, defined by what Gerbi calls “equilibrium”. Lots of acidity and concentrated ripe red fruit defines the wine, its not jammy but almost restrained, it’s as if the old vines imprinted their character upon it. This is a wine that needs time, best in 7-10 years from the harvest, but at the moment, it slowly unfurls to showcase its charms. Gerbi said, “It’s super exciting every day, to work with this great heritage.”

The wines are reasonably priced, even conservatively so during a time of tariffs. Frasca La Guaragna is giving voice to the Nizza DOCG, and is completing work on a new winery that will open in 2027, what Gerbi feels will be a “empty box that we have to fill with experiences and understanding.” The winemaking team will be developing and promoting the winery’s specific crus, getting out the word about this exciting new Nizza DOCG appellation.

​In the meantime, Frasca La Guaragna wines take Barbera to another level, while aromatic in the glass, it’s vibrant acidity, rich red fruit and subtle spice so very pleasant; with food, it blossoms into something richer and more complex, exponentially different, in a very good way. Hail to the Nizza DOCG!

Frasca La Guaragna, ​https://en.frascawine.com/