Barbaresco

The Piedmontese DOCG zone of Barbaresco is responsible for producing some of Italy’s finest wines. It occupies the same region and uses the same grape (Nebbiolo) as its bigger brother Barolo but is a third of the size (only 640ha versus Barolo’s 1700 ha). It is also 50 years younger than Barolo, having produced wine labelled ‘Barbaresco’ since 1890.

Barbaresco earned its DOCG (after Barolo) in 1980 largely thanks to the efforts of Angelo Gaja. The soils are lighter here – both in colour and weight – than in Barolo and more calcareous. The slopes are also less favourably situated and consequently yield earlier-maturing (relatively speaking) although extremely elegant wines that require less oak ageing (normally 1 year in oak plus 6 months in bottle).  The appellation’s key districts are Barbaresco, Treiso, Neive and Alba.

Recommended producers: Cigliuti, Gaja, Marchesi di Gresy