Barbaresco is an Italian dry red wine produced in the Piedmont region. It is made from Nebbiolo grapes and typically has an alcohol content of around 13.5%.
How it is made
Barbaresco is made from Nebbiolo grapes grown in the municipalities of Barbaresco, Treiso, and Neive. The wine must be aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 9 months, though 2 years is common, and 4 years for the Riserva designation.
History
Barbaresco received the highest quality designation (DOCG) in Italy in 1980, just six months after the category was created. The wine's reputation was significantly enhanced by innovative approaches from the Gaja family, particularly Angelo Gaja who developed special methods for barrel treatment to reduce tannin content.
Types and styles
Barbaresco is typically less tannic and more approachable than its neighboring wine Barolo, requiring less aging. While less variable than Barolo, it still offers different expressions based on its specific terroir and winemaking techniques.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Барбареско, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.