- Last updated on November 18, 2022
Our Best Barbaresco Selection
- Best Overall: Roagna Pajè Barbaresco
- Best Value: Moccagatta Bric Balin Barbaresco 2016
- Best under $30: Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin Barbaresco
- Best under $40: Cantine Povero Batù Barbaresco 2018
- Best under $50: Prunotto Barbaresco 2018
- Best under $100: Carlo Giacosa Luca Barbaresco Riserva 2016
- Best Luxury: Gaja Sorì Tildìn (Barbaresco) Langhe
7 Best Barbaresco Reviewed
Find below the reviews for our wine selection of the 7 Best Barbaresco so that you have all the info you need to pick what’s best for you.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 78% more. | Featured in Vivino’s 2020 Wine Style Awards: Italian Barbaresco (2013 Vintage)
Region: Italy, Piemonte
Tasting notes: Red Fruit, Leather, Tobacco, Spices, Violet, Rose.
If you are after an outstanding bottle yet extremely well priced, look no further!
Rich and ethereal nose with a clear “goudron” (tarry) aroma, tobacco, spices, with an excitingly evolving bouquet.
Interesting escalation of different olfactory sensations.
Full, austere and elegant taste with a great structure, consistent with the olfactory sensations.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 62% more.
Region: Italy, Piemonte
Tasting notes: Raspberry, Cherry, Plum, Smoke, Tar, Tobacco, Oak.
Bric Balin is another great Barbaresco bottle at a very competitive price for the quality it offers. I’ll be quick if I were you!
Lively, juicy and nicely balanced, with harmonious acidity framing the wine’s red fruit and medicinal flavors.
Very good depth and length here, with the tannins nicely supporting the wine’s finishing fruit.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 50% more.
Region: Italy, Piemonte
Tasting notes: Ripe Cherry, Strawberry, Plum, Earthy, Rose, Violet.
This is a great entry level Barbaresco that offers great value for your money!
The bouquet is layered with forest floor, violet, rose and berry, while the palate delivers ripe cherry, white pepper, cinnamon and mint flavours.
The tannins are still youthful and tight.
Vivino’s tips: Great value for money. Similar wines usually cost 2 times as much.
Region: Italy, Piemonte
Tasting notes: Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Leather, Earthy, Violet.
At this price range, this is currently one of the best Barbaresco you can find from price ratio point of view.
Expect cherry, raspberry, plum, oak and leather notes and balanced wine overall.
Vivino’s tips: 90 points by Wine Enthusiast (2018 Vintage)
Region: Italy, Piemonte
Tasting notes: Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Oak, Licorice, Pepper, Violet.
Garnet red colour of good intensity. Complex with hints of red fruit and spicy notes.
Full flavour and velvety with a persistent aftertaste.
Vivino’s tips: Great value for money. Similar wines usually cost 4 times as much.
Region: Italy, Piemonte
Tasting notes: Sour Cherry, Strawberry, Plum, Rose, Tobacco, Cinnamon.
Yes you read it correctly, it’s not a typo, this bottle offers an unbelievable good value for money!
If I’d were you I’ll be fast, it’ll go soon!
This outstanding Barbaresco Riserva is balanced and complex. Expect sour cherry, strawberry, plum, rose, tobacco and cinnamon.
Vivino’s tips: 96 points by Jeff Leve (2007 Vintage)
Region: Italy, Piemonte
Tasting notes: Cherry, Strawberry, Roses, Leather, Licorice, Oak, Tobacco.
The rich body, subtle texture and fine, ripe tannins are typical for this wine of great finesse, the quintessential expression of the land and the Nebbiolo.
Buying Guide to Barbaresco
It’s not just about which Barbaresco you should buy.
There are other important aspects like how to serve it, food pairings, and much more.
The below buying guide will give you a detailed overview of all these topics.
Barbaresco Overview
Here you find an overview of where Barbaresco is most commonly planted.
Grape
Nebbiolo
ABV
13.5%–15%
Main Regions
Italy: Piemonte
Other Regions
-
Grape
Nebbiolo
ABV
13.5%–15%
Main Regions
Italy: Piemonte
Other Regions
-
Barbaresco Taste Profile
These are some of the most common aromas and flavors of Barbaresco.
Color
Pale Garnet
Nose
Cherry
Roses
Violet
Truffel
Licorice
Palate
Red Fruit, Licorice
Dry
Medium - High Acidity
Medium - High Tannins
Medium to Full Body
Color
Pale Garnet
Nose
Cherry
Roses
Violet
Truffel
Licorice
Palate
Red Fruit, Licorice
Dry
Medium - High Acidity
Medium - High Tannins
Medium to Full Body
Barbaresco Food Pairing
These are some food pairing suggestions for Barbaresco.
Appetizer
Porcini Mushroom,
Truffle Risotto/Tajarin,
Vitello Tonnato,
Grilled Radicchio,
Butternut Squash
Meat
Battuta di Fassona (Meat Tartare),
Braised Duck,
Roast Turkey,
Ribeye Steak
Fish
-
Cheese
Semi Hard (Parmigiano, Pecorino)
Blue Cheese (Gorgonzola)
Appetizer
Porcini Mushroom,
Truffle Risotto/Tajarin,
Vitello Tonnato,
Grilled Radicchio,
Butternut Squash
Meat
Battuta di Fassona (Meat Tartare),
Braised Duck,
Roast Turkey,
Ribeye Steak
Fish
-
Cheese
Semi Hard (Parmigiano, Pecorino)
Blue Cheese (Gorgonzola)
Serve and Store Barbaresco
Here you find some useful tips on how to serve and store Barbaresco.
Decant
1 hrs
Glass
Aroma Collector
Serve at
64 - 68 °F
18 - 20 °C
Store for
Up to 10 years
Up to 20+ years finest bottles only
Decant
1 hrs
Glass
Aroma Collector
Serve at
64 - 68 °F
18 - 20 °C
Store for
Up to 10 years
Up to 20+ years finest bottles only
Barbaresco Styles
You’ll find primarily two Barbaresco styles: DOCG and Riserva.
The DOCG appellation, see below in FAQ section for more details, requires 2 years of ageing and at least 9 months in oak.
Barbaresco Riserva must age for at least four years and at least 9 months in oak.
Barbaresco wine are very tannic, as such you should wait at least 5 to 10 years after vintage before drink it.
Our Verdict
What to do next?
Read our wine tasting guide to enhance your tasting experience and taste like the pro!
Alternatively, why don’t you check out our guides on Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon vs Merlot, or the other red wines?
FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Barbaresco.
What does Barbaresco mean?
There’s not yet clarity about the origin of the name Barbaresco.
Many researches agree that the name comes from the barbaric tribes that caused the end of the Roman Empire.
What is Barbaresco history?
Barbaresco is one of first recognised appellations in Italy, along with Barolo since 1966.
The Barbaresco wine was first produced in 1894 in the Barbaresco area.
It’s only in the 1950s that Barbaresco become famous thanks to two young winemakers, Bruno Giacosa and Angelo Gaja, who started to market Barbaresco internationally.
Where does Nebbiolo grow best?
When is the perfect time to drink Barbaresco?
Barbaresco is a full body and complex wine, as such it is a great choice for truffle, rich fat dishes and red meats dinner.
Is Barbaresco sweet?
Barbaresco is not sweet. It is a dry wine which means it contains less than 15 g/L, or sugar per liter.
Learn more about wine sweetness level here.
What does the acronym DOC and DOCG mean?
DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata. It’s one of the highest classification in Italy.
DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. It’s the highest classification in Italy.
Every DOCG wine is tested before bottling by a committee of licensed judges which guarantee the quality of the wine.
To obtain DOC winemakers need to follow rigorous protocols for harvesting, cultivation, and production.
Other common classifications are DO and IGT.[2]
What’s Barbaresco's typical price range?
Barbaresco is rarely an affordable wine but you can find good entry-level bottle around $30-$40.
Great bottles will generally priced around $50-$100 price range.
For those of you who are after the luxury segment be prepared to spend several $100s.
