There are many things to say about the wonderful charms of Barbera. From its native home in Piemonte there are a plethora of beautifully-made wines that shriek berry juiciness, and possess great balance too. And this version, from Swartland, has similarly direct appeal. It offers a lovely acidity and freshness that skewers all the way through its bright, intense cherry core. It is also an extremely versatile wine when it comes to food pairing. The concentrated sweet fruit makes it an ideal accompaniment to fragrant spiced dishes like chicken marinated in ras el hanout, and the light tannins and natural acidity will sit beautifully against an earthy mushroom risotto.