Bar.. bar... barbera baby

After a day walking around Vatican City and gawking at the sheer opulence in the museums and the Sistine chapel, it's time to return to our relative normalcy. We settled upon a barbera to help us descend back to earth. For a moment, I digress to say that I really don't ever leave Vatican City feeling good about the church. This is not a political or religious point I'm making - I steer clear of that; however, I am making the observation that in a place where you can see an entire great hall with gold molding, and then take in the gorgeous works of Michael Angelo (my, how understated his work is, in pictures and lore), there is an overbearing but oft ignored amount of poverty right at their doorstep.

Back to the barbera... this is a light (as you'd expect), barnyard, fragrant, highly accessible wine. I love barberas for a pre-dinner, afternoon drink. Don't let the light body fool you though, as this is not an easily overpowered wine; it may be delicate but it is still a polished one.