Idiom’s small-batch Barbera 2022 receives the highest distinction at the 2026 National Wine Challenge, highlighting a distinctive Cape expression of one of Italy’s celebrated grape varieties.
SOMERSET WEST, SOUTH AFRICA — October 2026
Idiom Barbera 2022 has been awarded Grand Cru National Champion Best in Class and Top 100/Double Platinum at the 2026 National Wine Challenge, bringing national recognition to one of the winery’s signature Italian varieties.
For Alberto Bottega, planting Italian cultivars in the Helderberg was an expression of his Italian heritage and a way to explore how these varieties would respond to the character of the Cape. The resulting portfolio, which includes Sangiovese, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Primitivo, offers a distinctive perspective on Italian varieties grown in South Africa. The Barbera 2022 accolade marks a significant achievement for a small-batch wine and reinforces Idiom’s commitment to producing distinctive, character-led wines beyond the familiar.
Barbera: Italian heritage, Cape expression
Across its Italian and Cape expressions, Barbera reveals an inviting combination of colour, fragrance and fruit. Deep ruby red in appearance, the variety is known for aromas of violets and lavender, alongside juicy, mouthwatering flavours of red cherry and black plum. Its freshness and generous fruit make it a compelling partner for hearty steaks and game dishes.
The finest Italian Barberas are often distinguished by structured elegance, with fresh, dry and firm tannins shaped by cooler ripening conditions, fuller tannin extraction and considered barrel maturation. Idiom’s interpretation takes a different approach. Reflecting full ripening on the vine and gentler extraction in the winery, the wine presents a softer, richer profile, complemented by intriguing spice notes from American oak.
This contrast gives Idiom Barbera its own identity: retaining the variety’s expressive fruit and freshness while offering a more rounded texture and a distinctive Cape character.
The 2022 vintage
Made from 100% Barbera grown at the Da Capo vineyard in Sir Lowry’s Pass, within the Helderberg, the 2022 vintage reflects the character of its Cape origin. The vineyard’s granite-derived Tukulu soils and Table Mountain Sandstone contribute to the setting in which this Italian variety is cultivated.
The wine spent 24 months in 225-litre barrels, comprising approximately 70% French oak and 30% American oak. Bottled by hand without filtration, it may contain natural sediment.
On the palate, the wine’s dark cherry character is complemented by cedar, tobacco and a subtle dark-chocolate finish. Its richness and freshness lend it versatility at the table, particularly alongside tagliatelle ragù, mushroom pasta, hearty steaks and game.
A distinctive place in the Cape
Idiom’s Italian varietal programme reflects a broader ambition: to explore the possibilities of grape varieties whose identities have been shaped by generations of Italian winemaking, interpreting them through the Helderberg.
For sommeliers, collectors and discerning wine enthusiasts, these wines offer an alternative to more familiar varieties, with distinctive profiles suited to considered food pairings, degustation menus and cellaring. The Barbera 2022’s recognition at the National Wine Challenge provides a notable endorsement of this approach.
For Idiom, the accolade is both a celebration of an exceptional vintage and an affirmation of the potential of Italian cultivars in the Cape — wines shaped by heritage, place and an individual point of view.
About Idiom
Situated in the heart of the Helderberg range in Somerset West, Idiom is part of Bottega Family Wines. Rooted in Alberto Bottega’s Italian heritage, the winery has established a distinctive identity through its plantings of Italian grape varieties, including Sangiovese, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Primitivo. These signature cultivars are central to Idiom’s portfolio, offering expressive interpretations of Italian varieties through the character of the Cape.
With a focus on individuality, varietal character and provenance, the Idiom collection appeals to sommeliers, collectors and discerning wine enthusiasts seeking distinctive bottles for exploration, cellaring and considered dining experiences.
Visit the Idiom Tasting Room or order the Idiom Barbera online.