Producer

La Pergola

I have reviewed two wines from La Pergola, from the 2021 to 2024 vintages, all from Monferrato. All are Barbera. Scores range from 90 to 90, averaging 90; the highest is the 2024 La Pergola Monferrato Rosso (90 points).

Tenuta La Pergola, in Cisterna d’Asti, is a historic family estate at the crossroads of the Roero, Monferrato and Langhe. Run by the Bodda family since 1903, it is a reliable source of authentic, good-value Piedmontese wine from local varieties, including crisp Roero Arneis. The farming is organic and the winemaking minimal, and the wines are unpretentious and joyful, made for the daily table.

The Monferrato Rosso shows the house style. Barbera leads the blend, with Dolcetto, Freisa and Croatina, the proportions shifting from vintage to vintage. It is bright ruby, with sour cherry, wild raspberry, plum and violet, light to medium-bodied, with Barbera’s zesty acidity and soft, easy tannins. It is the quintessential Italian table wine in the best sense, perfect with pizza, pasta with a simple tomato sauce or a platter of salumi and cheese, and a fine starting point for exploring Piedmont beyond its famous names.