Barbaresco is a red Italian wine produced from Nebbiolo grape, often called “the younger brother” of Barolo. These wines have certain similarities, but if you compare them, you will see their differences in ripening, aging, and taste. Simply put, Barbaresco tends to be lighter than Barolo, and is considered more aromatic, refined and elegant than rich and powerful Barolo.
Both Barolo and Barbaresco red wines are made in the Piedmont area of Italy, to the east of Alba. The Barbaresco is planted on a much smaller area than that used for Barolo, only around 1,200 acres. Basically, these two varieties are produced in neighboring areas less than 10 miles from each other. However, the Barbaresco zone tends to receive some maritime influence, and Nebbiolo ripens in this zone a little earlier than in the Barolo area. It means that the grape gets to fermentation earlier, which makes young Barbaresco not as harsh as Barolo. In other words, the tannins of Barbaresco soften quicker, making the wines more pleasant to drink at an earlier age. At the same time, this fact doesn’t allow Barbaresco wine to age for as long as traditional Barolo wine.
