Wines Brachetto d'Acqui Bigià Bianchini - 2022

Viniou Reviews

Bigià Bianchini's 2022 Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG is an intriguing red wine hailing from the northwestern region of Piedmont in Italy. Crafted from the native Brachetto grape, this vintage captures the variety's distinctive floral and red fruit aromatics. While Brachetto d'Acqui is often produced in a lightly sparkling and sweet style, this example is vinified as a dry red wine, which is rare and showcases a different and more structured side of the grape. The 2022 vintage benefited from a balanced growing season, promoting excellent ripeness and aromatic clarity. The terroir around Acqui Terme, with its calcareous marl soils and gentle slopes, imparts freshness and poise to the wine. Gentle vinification techniques allow the grape's perfumed notes of wild strawberry, rose petals, and aromatic herbs to shine without being masked by excessive oak or extraction.

Piedmont, renowned for its rolling hills and storied wine traditions, boasts a continental climate with pronounced seasonal changes. The warm days and cool nights in the Acqui zone are ideal for the Brachetto grape, preserving its delicate aromatics while enabling good sugar and phenolic ripeness. The region's winemaking history stretches back centuries and is punctuated by a deep respect for indigenous varieties. Though overshadowed by giants like Barolo and Barbaresco, the Brachetto grape has carved out its own niche, particularly prized for its freshness and aromatic charm.

Given its unique structure and aromatic profile, this dry Brachetto pairs delightfully with dishes that mirror its subtlety and elegance. Ideal alongside antipasti such as vitello tonnato or roasted peppers with anchovies, it also complements fresh cheeses and lighter game birds. For a regional touch, try it with agnolotti del plin, a classic filled pasta from Piedmont. Its brightness and red fruit notes also provide a refreshing counterpoint to Asian cuisine with sweet-soy glazes and aromatic spices.

When serving this Brachetto d'Acqui, aim for a slightly cool temperature of around 14-16°C. This enhances the wine's perfume while maintaining its refreshing acidity and light tannic structure. Decanting is not necessary; simply enjoy its vivacity and youthful charm within two to four years of the vintage for optimal pleasure.