Barbaresco DOCG
Barbaresco DOCG, commune by commune and cru by cru, with the Piemonte map alongside.
Barbaresco lies east of the city of Alba, on the right bank of the Tanaro River, and is 100% Nebbiolo. It was DOC in 1966 and elevated to DOCG in 1980. Its 4 communes are Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio, which is part of Alba; the 3 main communes are Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso. Barbaresco took its MGA in 2007 — the first official MGA, with Barolo following in 2010 — and has 66 MGAs.
Commune of Barbaresco
Asili
Asili is worked by Ceretto, Michele Chiarlo, Bruno Giacosa and Produttori del Barbaresco.
Rabajà
Rabajà is worked by Castello di Verduno, Bruno Rocca, Produttori del Barbaresco and Bruno Giacosa.
Montestefano
Montestefano is worked by Produttori del Barbaresco, Serafino Rivella and La Ca'Nova.
Montefico
Montefico is worked by Produttori del Barbaresco and Carlo Giacosa.
Ovello
Ovello is worked by Produttori del Barbaresco, Cascina Morassino and Valfieri.
Pora
Pora is worked by Produttori del Barbaresco, Gigi Bianco and Ca' del Baio.
Rio Sordo
Rio Sordo is worked by Produttori del Barbaresco, Musso, Pier, Cascina delle Rose and Ca' Rome.
Tre Stelle
Tre Stelle is worked by Cascina delle Rose and Pelissero.
Secondine
Secondine is worked by Gaja, who sources Sorì San Lorenzo here.
Pajé
Pajé is worked by Roagna, Produttori del Barbaresco and Carlo Boffa.
Roncagliette
Roncagliette, which includes Sorì Tildìn and Costa Russi, is worked by Gaja.
Roncaglie
Roncaglie is worked by Poderi Colla and Bel Colle.
Martinenga
Martinenga is worked by Marchesi di Grésy.
Commune of Neive
Albesani
Albesani is worked by Bruno Giacosa, Castello di Neive, Roagna and Massolino; Santo Stefano is a subzone within the Albesani cru.
Gallina
Gallina is worked by La Spinetta, Oddero, Piero Busso and Roagna.
Serraboella
Serraboella is worked by Paitin and Cigliuti.
Basarin
Basarin, also written Bassarin, is worked by Moccagatta.
Bricco di Neive
Bricco di Neive is worked by Dante Rivetti, Enrico Serafino, La Morandina and Cigliuti.
Starderi
Starderi is a further cru of Neive.
Commune of Treiso
Pajore
Pajore is worked by Rizzi and Sottimano.
Bricco di Treiso
Bricco di Treiso is worked by Pio Cesare.
Valeirano
Valeirano is worked by La Spinetta and Ada Nada.
Bernadot
Bernadot, also written Bernardot, is worked by Ceretto, of Bricco Asili.
Nervo
Nervo is worked by Elvio Pertinace and Rizzi.
Commune styles
The Barbaresco commune gives among the fruitiest and most generous wines, especially from the Asili cru. Neive is typically leaner and more austere, has the highest altitude of the Barbaresco communes, and is more perfumed with a firmer tannic structure.
Barbaresco against Barolo
Barbaresco sits at slightly lower altitude than Barolo and is therefore slightly warmer — the Tanaro River just north diminishes the diurnal temperature range — so it harvests a week earlier. The style is subtly riper and slightly softer than Barolo, which is more tannic. Vineyard elevation runs to a maximum of 550m, and northern exposures are prohibited.
Regulations
Maximum yield is 56 hl/ha and minimum alcohol 12.5%, against Barolo's 13%. Barbaresco requires a minimum 26 months from Nov 1 of the harvest year, including a minimum 9 months in wood, and may be released after Jan 1 of the 3rd year following harvest. Barbaresco Riserva requires a minimum 50 months from the same date, again including a minimum 9 months in wood, and may be released after Jan 1 of the 5th year following harvest.
Key producers
The traditionalist is Bruno Giacosa, the modernist Angelo Gaja, and the local co-operative is Produttori del Barbaresco. The emphasis has been on domaines and estate-bottling since the 1960s.
The official MGA on the Consorzio map
The official Barbaresco MGA on the Consorzio map number 69 across 4 communes — Alba (4): Meruzzano, Montersino, Rizzi, Rocche Massalupo; Barbaresco (25): Asili, Ca' Grossa, Cars, Cavanna, Cole, Faset, Martinenga, Montaribaldi, Montefico, Montestefano, Muncagöta, Ovello, Pajè, Pora, Rabajà, Rabajà - Bas, Rio Sordo, Roccalini, Roncaglie, Roncagliette, Ronchi, Secondine, Tre Stelle, Trifolera, Vicenziana; Neive (20): Albesani, Balluri, Basarin, Bordini, Bric Micca, Bricco di Neive, Canova, Cottà, Currà, Fausoni, Gaia-Principe, Gallina, Marcorino, Rivetti, San Cristoforo, San Giuliano, Serraboella, Serracapelli, Serragrilli, Starderi; Treiso (20): Ausario, Bernadot, Bricco di Treiso, Casot, Castellizzano, Ferrere, Garassino, Giacone, Giacosa, Manzola, Marcarini, Meruzzano, Montersino, Nervo, Pajorè, Rizzi, Rombone, San Stunet, Valeirano, Vallegrande.