Barbera is a grapes variety grown in many parts of Italy but it has found its ideal habitat in some regions of Northern Italy, especially in Piedmont, where it is enhanced in various designations, some of which are very well known, such as Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG, Nizza DOCG.

In Lombardy, Barbera is mostly used in assembly with Croatina grapes; two well-known expressions of Oltrepò Pavese area are Buttafuoco of Oltrepò Pavese DOC and Sangue di Giuda dell'Oltrepò Pavese DOC.

In Emilia-Romagna, certainly a region with a different vocation compared to Piedmont, Barbera is cultivated throughout the Apennines: the most famous designation is Gutturnio DOC, produced in the province of Piacenza.