Comparison
Barbera d’Asti vs Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
How Barbera d’Asti and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
Barbera d’Asti and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Barbera d’Asti has more acidity; Barbera d’Asti has more perceived freshness; Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has more tannin.
Choose
Barbera d’Asti
Choose Barbera d’Asti if you want something fresher and more acidic, fresher, more oaky.
Choose
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Choose Montepulciano d’Abruzzo if you want something more tannic and structured, rounder and creamier in texture.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Barbera d’Asti is fresher and more acidic: high against medium.
Perceived freshness
Clear differenceThe overall impression of liveliness — a composite of acidity, alcohol balance, fruit character and the absence of tiredness. Distinct from raw acidity: a wine can be high in acid yet taste heavy.
Barbera d’Asti is fresher: high against medium.
Tannin
Clear differencePhenolic compounds from grape skins, seeds, stems and oak. The principal structural axis of red wine.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is more tannic and structured: medium against low-medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Barbera d’Asti is more oaky: medium against low-medium.
Texture
Clear differenceMouthfeel independent of weight — from lean and cutting through to creamy, waxy or velvety. Driven by lees contact, malolactic conversion, skin contact and ageing.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is rounder and creamier in texture: medium-plus against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Sweetness: Similar — both low.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Body: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Barbera d’Asti | Montepulciano d’Abruzzo |
|---|---|---|
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Tannin | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 15–17°C |
| Typical flavours | sour cherry, plum, dried herbs, liquorice | black plum, blackberry, dried herbs, liquorice, cocoa |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.