Barbaresco wine: when vineyards make a difference
Barbaresco wine is one of the jewels of the enological tradition of Piedmont, as well as one of the most requested wines around the world. It is produced in the vineyards on the homonymous hills close to Alba, in the province of Cuneo. It is the perfect result of the care that goes into the Nebbiolo vineyards, of which this wine is the most precious branch.
The production of Barbaresco is allowed only in areas that belong to DOCG: these are unique lands - a mix of clay, sand and hills - that produce wines that have special and distinctive qualities.
Barbaresco wines: excellent wine cellars
Each year, Barbaresco wine takes on tones, shades and colors that vary, depending on the climactic variety of the region and on the growth of the vineyard. For the fans of this delicacy each bottle is the culmination of new tastes and smells. Barbaresco wine cellars were founded in the second half of the 1900, and today they cover more than 100 hectares of land.
There are several varieties of Barbaresco wine that are differentiable because of their color, tannins and consistency, but also because of their compatibility with different plates. In particularly fortunate years, up to nine different varieties of Barbaresco wines are produced, each with their own uniqueness. A characteristic that is true to all varieties is the aging period, which must be at least 26 months, 9 of which must take place in wooden barrels.
Rabaja Barbaresco wine is produced in vineyards with clayey soil and sandy veins. The intense and ripe grapes are macerated for more than 30 days after the fermentation process, which takes place in steel containers at 30 degrees Celsius. The wine is left to age for 36 months in durmast bottles, or for 9 months in normal bottles. This is a variety with an intense aroma, a rich body, and a taste that immediately captivates your palate. It possesses a great drinkability and bodes well with every type of meat (white, red or game). It is great with pasta and risotto, as well, alongside vegetables. Depending on the production year, there might be differences in its taste and fragrance. Nevertheless, Rabaja Barbaresco is an elegant wine, easily combinable with the aforementioned products.
A second excellent variety is Gaja Barbaresco, a unique product that is born in the Spanish-born homonymous company, and that reached Italian shores in the 17th century. This variety has an intense red color with crimson reflections, and a captivating aroma that recalls citrus fruit, elder flowers, and white pepper. Its taste is strong, rich, and elegant. Each production year is different: there are some particularly refined, such as 2010. It bodes well with red and white meat, game and aged cheese.
Incredibly priced Barbaresco wines
What are Barbaresco wine prices? They can vary and depend on the type of wine and production year. Nevertheless, it's easy to purchase a good bottle at accessible prices.