Last year, Forbes magazine's wine and food columnist Tom Hyland published a list of the 25 best Barolo producers over the past 10 years through tasting and a combination of factors.
Of course, Barolo, as the "wine king" of Italy, is one of the best appellations in Italy. The Barbaresco appellation, which uses the same grape variety next door, is considered to be slightly inferior to Barolo, although it is more feminine in style and has the title of "drunkard" in Italy. In fact, the high-quality Barbaresco dry red has excellent aging potential as much as Barolo. To this end, Tom Hyland has published a list of the 25 best Barbaresco producers to justify his name.
1. Jiaya Winery
Gaia
Gaya Winery San Lorenzo Single Garden Dry Red
It's safe to say that without Gaya, many wine lovers might never have heard of Barbaresco. Founder Giovanni Gaja first brewed Gaja Sori San Lorenzo in 1967, followed by Gaja Sori San Tildin and Gaja Costa Russi Dry Red. These unusual concentrations of single garden dry red have attracted the attention and praise of the wine media around the world, making it one of the world's leading wine producers.
The current owner, Angelo Gaja, as the revolutionary pioneer of the Barbaresco appellation, has also been questioned on his path to innovation. For example, many people are quite critical of his use of small oak barrels instead of large old oak barrels of traditional Italy.
Since 1996, he has abandoned the Barbaresco appellation logo and decided to add a small number of Barbera grape varieties to his wines. But a few years ago, Château Gaya resumed brewing dry red from the Barbaresco appellation using 100% Nebbiolo. However, no matter what everyone thinks, this old gentleman still has not stopped innovating, but it is his innovative spirit that makes Gaya Winery rank among the top wine producers in Italy and even the world.
2. Château Giaxosa
Bruno Giacosa
Chateau Jacosa La Baja Single Garden dry red
When Bruno Giacosa, the founder of Château Giacosa, first started making wine in the 1960s, many wine grapes were purchased from other winegrowers. Until the 1980s, the scale of its own vineyard gradually expanded, and the quality of its dry red was gradually improved, resulting in a complex aroma and a strong aging potential of Barbaresco dry red. Even wine critics who prefer an international and intense style have given The Barbalesco Dry Red at The Chateau Giacosa a very high evaluation.
Bruno Giaxo has his own unique insight into how to make wine. 2006 was recognized as an outstanding vintage, but Bruno Giaccosa did not make the Barbaresco and Barolo dry reds of that vintage because he did not consider the wines to meet his standards.
Currently, the best Barcelesco dry reds at Château Giacosa are Bruno Giacosa Rabaja, Bruno Giacosa Santo Stefano and Bruno Giacosa Asili Riserva. However, many regret the passing away of Mr. Bruno Giaxo in 2018. Happily, his daughter inherited her father's will, and the current Château Giacosa is as good as ever.
3. Barbaresco Brewing Cooperative
Barbaresco producers
La Baha Single Garden treasures dried red
The Barbaresco Brewing Cooperative is one of the finest winemaking cooperatives in Italy, formerly known as the Cantine Sociali cooperative founded in 1894, and it was they who changed the original label "Nebbiolo di Barbaresco" to Barbaresco for the first time. This cooperative was forced to close during the period of fascism until the end of the war. In 1958, 19 young winegrowers gathered again to form the Barbaresco Brewing Cooperative, the most learned of which, Celestino Vacca, became its first director.
Today, Aldo, son of Celestino Vaca, has returned to the Barbaresco Brewing Cooperative after 5 years at château Gaya. Adhering to tradition and purity, he has brought the Barbaresco Winemaking Co-operative to the ranks of the top wineries, whose winery wines are known locally as the "Soul of Barbaresco". Today, the cooperative has grown from an initial 19 winegrowers to 50 and manages 100 hectares of vineyards, all located in the heart of Barbaresco.
Barbaresco Brewing Cooperative's most important single garden collection Of Barbalesco Dry Red is divided into 3 grades by Aldo, namely:
Entry-level models: Produttori del Barbaresco, Asili Riserva, Produttori del Barbaresco, Rio Sordo Riserva and Produttori del Barbaresco, Pora Riserva
Advanced: Produttori del Barbaresco, Paje Riserva, Produttori del Barbaresco, Ovello Riserva and Produttori del Barbaresco, Muncagota Riserva
High-end models: Produttori del Barbaresco, Rabaja Riserva, Produttori del Barbaresco (Montefico Riserva) and Produttori del Barbaresco, Montestefano Riserva single garden collection of dry red.
4. Orlando Abrigo Winery
Orlando Shelter
Orlando Abrigo Winery Trossino dry red
Orlando Abrigo is a boutique winery with its own vineyards in Montersino, Meruzzano and Rongalio, 3 prime plots in the Barbaresco appellation, with Trocino being of the highest quality, in Lorenzo Fantini's Monografia sulla Viticoltura ed Enologia nella Provincia di Cuneo) labels it as a "plot of land of special value". Orlando Abrigo Montersino's wine grapes are made from old vines and aged in vats, with a fruity, tannic suppleness.
5. Avi Winery
Adriano Marco and Vittorio
Château Avi Basharin treasures dry red
Château Avi, a family-owned winery on the outskirts of Alba, is an underrated Barbaresco producer. Today there are about 27 hectares of vineyards spread around Neive and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio. The vineyard is managed in full accordance with the biodynamic method, bringing out the terroir of the winery's vineyards to the fullest. Of the Barbaresco dry reds produced by Avi Winery, the Basharin Collection (Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin Riserva) is their most proud product, this traditional style of Barbaresco dry red is complex in flavor, although not the most powerful, but quite satisfactory.
6. Biody Winery
Ca' del Baio
The Aster Single Garden of The Biot winery treasures dry red
Owned by the Grasso Family, The Biot has been cultivated for 4 generations. They believe that only hard work in the vineyard and simplifying everything is a prerequisite for maintaining the quality of wine. It is because of their efforts that the wines they produce often appear in the list of the "Tre Bicchieri" (Tre Bicchieri) of the Italian Red Shrimp (Gambero Rosso).
Château Bioles has a wide range of wines, including 5 Barcelesco dry reds, namely Ca' del Baio Asili, Ca' del Baio Asili Riserva, Ca' del Baio Pora, Ca' del Baio Vallegrande and 1 Ca' from different vineyards del Baio Autinbej）。
7. Château della Rose
Cascina delle Rose
Della Rose Winery Rio Soldo dry red
Château della Rose is a family-owned boutique winery purchased by the Rizzolio family in 1948 in Rio Sordo, a premium sub-appellation of Barbaresco. Its vineyards cover an area of only 4.5 hectares, and the soil is mostly calcareous and sandy clay, rich in minerals and well-structured. The dry red of Château della Rose fully exhibits the characteristics of wine grapes, with aromas of ripe red cherry and orange peel, and soft tannins. Among them, the most representative are the Cascina delle Rose Rio Sordo and the Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle.
8. Cassina Rocarini Winery
Farmhouse Roccalini
Cassina Roccarini Winery Barbaresco treasures dry red
Located in the Barbaresco appellation, Château Cascina Rocarini was founded in 2004 by Paolo Veglio and has only 4 hectares of vineyards. Paul has had a keen interest in winemaking since childhood, having apprenticed at a local winery at the age of 14 and eventually earning a bachelor's degree at the Alba Winemaking Institute. For 10 years before he founded his own winery, Paul had been selling his grapes to Château Giacosa.
The winery adheres to organic cultivation, fermenting in cement tanks and aging in large oak barrels. Its brewed Barbaresco dry red is mainly fruity, complex and rich in flavor, and the taste is extremely soft. Currently, Château Cascina Roccalini produces a total of 2 Barcelesco dry reds from Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco and Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco Riserva.
9. Château Cerato
Waxing
Chateau Cerato Astragalus dry red
Located in the Barolo appellation just outside the town of Alba, Château Cerato has grown since its founding in 1930 and now has about 100 hectares of vineyards. Although Château Serato is famous for its variety of Barolo dry reds, the Barbaresco dry reds it produces are also very impressive. The winery's representative Barcelesco is its Ceretto Asili, which is admirable in its aromatric complexity and long-lasting aftertaste, a delicate dry red that is definitely worth the money.
10. Piot Winery
Pius Caesar
Pio Winery Ilbridgeco Single Garden Dry Red
Arguably one of the oldest wineries in piedmont, Château Piot was named one of the "10 Best Wineries in the World" by Wine Spectator in 2002. Since its establishment, the winery has been committed to showing the terroir characteristics of the appellation and has extremely high requirements for variety. Today, Château Pio has more than 50 hectares of vineyards in the best of the Barolo and Barbaresco regions.
The winery's most classic Barcelesco dry red is Pio Cesare Il Bricco. Located in the village of Treiso, the single garden brews a dry red aroma with a rich floral aroma, excellent structure, rich tannins and strong aging potential.
11. Colle Winery
Poderi Colla
Colle Winery Gao Long Jiali dry red
The Colla Family, which has lived in piedmont for generations, has a history of winemaking dating back to 1703. In 1994, Tino Colla and granddaughter Federica established their own winery in Langhe Albesi, Château Colle. Currently, the winery has its own vineyards in the Alba appellation, the Barbaresco appellation and the Monforte appellation. Its brewed Poderi Colla Roncaglie is very soft and balanced, and the spice blends very well with the woody aroma, which is a very high quality Barbaresco dry red.
12. Fontanabiaca Winery
Fontanabianca
Fontanabiaca Winery Bordini dry red
Located in the village of Neva, the father of the current owner, Aldo Pola, has been working as a winemaker since 1969 and has only recently begun selling under the name "Fontanabiaca Winery". Using a combination of modern technology and tradition, Fontanabiaca winery is committed to presenting wines that represent the terroir of The Village of Neva. Among the many Barbaresco dry reds currently produced by the winery, the most famous is fontanabianca Bordini, all aged in small oak barrels, which have a very deep aroma and a rich spice flavor.
13. Château Giacosa
Giacosa Brothers
Giacosa Winery Basharinvinia Gianmat Single Garden Dry Red
At the end of the 19th century, four brothers of the Giacosa Family moved to the village of Neva in the heart of the Langhe region, where they bought a wine cellar in 1895 with the money from the lottery and began to brew their own wines. Since 1990, the Giaxo family has bought several excellent vineyards and produced a series of excellent wines.
The winery produces three types of Barcelesco dry red, the classic Fratelli Giacosa Barbaresco and the Fratelli Giacosa Basarin "Vigna Gianmate" from the village of Neva.
14. Louis Jordan Winery
Luigi Giordano
Louis Jordan Château Montestaino dry red
Château Louis Jordan is a small family-owned winery in the Barbaresco appellation, located in the winding hills of the Tanaro River. The winery has its own vineyards in Barbaresco's most prestigious sub-regions, Montesteano, Azelli and Cavanna. One of the signature wines is its Luigi Giordano Montestefano, which has classic aromas of dried cherries, tangerine peel, cedar and truffle, which can be said to be textbook-grade Barbaresco dry red.
15. McKay Di Gracie Winery
Marquesses of Gresy
McKay Di Gracery Gross Camp Single Garden treasures dry red
Alberto di Gresy's family owns a family estate and has been selling grapes from their vineyards to the best local wine producers for generations. In 1973, Alberto did not want to sell his grapes anymore and founded his own Michel di Gracie winery. On the basis of respect for tradition, state-of-the-art technology is used and as many characteristics of the vineyard as possible are revealed.
Known as one of the piedmontese wine producers, the three most iconic Barbaresco reds are Alberto di Gresy Martinenga, Alberto di Gresy Gaiun and Alberto di Gresy Camp Gros Riserva.
16. Mocagata Winery
Moccagatta
Mocagata Winery Cole Single Garden dry red
The Minuto Family has a long history of winemaking, dating back to 1800. In 1952, Mario inherited the Mocagata winery. Today, the winery has approximately 12 hectares of vineyards and produces an average of around 65,000 bottles of wine per year. The winery currently produces four modern styles of Barcagatta Basarin, Moccagatta Bric Balin, Moccagatta Cole and the classic Moccagatta Barbaresco.
17. Ada Nada Winery
Ada Nada
Ada Nada Winery "Varelano" dry red
Château Ada Nada originated in 1919 when the founder of the winery, Carlo Nada, used years of savings to buy a vineyard in the village of Teheso. The winery's method of brewing is very traditional, and only a few wines use a small proportion of new French oak barrels. Of its 3 Barbaresco dry reds, Ada Nada Valeirano is juicy and juicy, while Ada Nada Cichin Riserva and Ada Nada Elisa are more feminine, with hints of spices and tobacco. It is one of Tom Hyland's favorite Barbaresco wineries.
18. Nada Fiorenzo Winery
Nothing Fiorenzo
Nada Fiorenzo Winery Langmont Single Garden Dry Red
Located in the village of Teheso, The Nada Fiorenzo Winery was built in 1921 to produce bulk wines. Today, the winery is in its 4th generation, and the current owner, Danilo, is self-motivated and respects tradition and the environment. Therefore, Nada Fiorenzo does not use herbicides and pesticides, but protects the vines in a way that enhances biodiversity.
The Barberesco dry red aromas of Château Nada Fiorenzo are very complex, the most famous of which is its Nada Fiorenzo Rombone, which uses grapes all from vines that are more than 50 years old, so the aroma is extremely concentrated and impressive.
19. Serafino Rivera Winery
Serafino Rivella
Serafino Rivera Winery Montestes Tenor Single Garden Dry Red
Château Serafino Rivera is a garage winery in Montestaino, Barbaresco's top vineyard, where all the work is done by the owner, Teobaldo, and his wife. The winery produces only Serafino Rivella Montestefano, a Barbaresco dry red, with an annual production of only about 750 cases. Brewed entirely according to the traditional method, after a long period of maceration, aged only in large traditional Italian oak barrels, and with the exquisite craftsmanship of the owner, it perfectly presents the complexity and terroir characteristics, and is a very outstanding Barbaresco dry red.
20. Château Rez
Rizzi
Riez Château Boito dry red
Founded in 1974 by Ernesto Dellapiana, Château Rez sits on top of a hill with panoramic views of the town of Teheso. After years of development, Château Rez has 35 hectares of vineyards and has one of the best vineyards in Barbaresco. For a long time, Château Reitz was revered as the number one in the region and in 2006 became the first solar winery in the region.
Rizzi Boito's masterpiece of Barberesco's dry red is Rizzi Boito, a wine made from grapes from the finest vineyards of Château Rez and aged in large vats, perfectly demonstrating the pure fruit characteristics of Nebiolo, while the tannins are supple, the acidity is excellent and the structure is ideal for at least 10 years.
21. Laguna Winery
Roagna
Ragnar Winery Krishelpaje Single Garden Dry Red
Château Laguna is a legendary old winery in the Barbaresco appellation, which enjoys the status of one of Italy's top wineries due to the excellent quality of its Barolo and Barbaresco dry reds. The Vineyards at Château Laguna cover an area of approximately 12 hectares, most of which are vines over 50 years old.
In addition, the winery attaches great importance to the protection of the ecology of the vineyard and adheres to organic cultivation. In terms of vinification, in order to maintain the characteristics of the grape varieties themselves, the winery uses wild yeast fermentation and is aged in large oak barrels made of steam to reduce the change of oak to the flavor of the wine. The winery has a wide range of wines, the best of which is Roagna Crichet Paje, which is the best representation of the high-quality Paje vineyard and is a must-have for Babalesco lovers!
22. Château Abino Rocca
Albino Rocca
Abbino Rocca Château "Angelo" dry red
The rocca family's winemaking history began in 1940, initially selling only homegrown grapes. In 1960, Albino Rocca founded the winery under his own name. After years of accumulation and development, the winery now has its own plots in Ronchi, Loreto in Ovello, Trosino and Cotta.
Château Abino Rocca currently produces seven Barberesco dry reds, namely 4 Single Garden Dry Reds, 1 Albino Rocca Ronchi Riserva, 1 classic Albino Rocca Barbaresco and 1 Albino Rocca Angelo, which is brewed entirely in the traditional way. Their Barbaresco dry red is exquisitely complex, fruity, warm and elegant and pure.
23. Château Bruno Rocca
Bruno Rocca
In 1978, Francesco Bruno founded The Bruno Rocca winery in Rabaja. In contrast to the traditional Barbaresco dry red with its strong aroma and strong body, Bruno Rocca has conquered a large number of wine lovers with its unique style of elegance, balance, subtlety and softness like a feather, and has also earned the reputation of "Barbaresco Angel Feather".
Today, Château Bruno Rocca has acquired its own vineyards in Curra, Fausoni, Marcorino and San Cristoforo, but its original Labaja vineyard remains the winery's proudest plot, producing an elegant Bruno Rocca Rabaja that has never disappointed.
24. Soutimano Winery
Sottimano
Soutimano Winery Barbaresco treasures dry red
Soutimano Winery has 13 hectares of vineyards spread around the villages of Teheso and Neva. The winery minimizes human intervention by fermenting wild yeast and not filtering before bottling. Currently, the château produces 6 Barbaresco dry reds, including 5 from Basharin, Kula, Kota, Pajore, Fossoni and 1 Sorbanesco Roserva, which produces Barbaresco dry reds that are elegant and passionate, evocative, each of which shows the estate's exquisite craftsmanship and is quite attractive in his youth.
25. Spinita Winery
The Spinetta
Spinita Winery Carina Single Garden Dry Red
Located in the Moscato d'Asti region, The Spinita winery was founded to brew the famous local Small Sweet Water in Moscato. Subsequently, the winery continued to expand its scale, acquiring a large number of high-quality vineyards in famous appellations such as Barolo, Barbaresco and Tuscany. Among them, the winery has a 5-hectare vineyard in Barbaresco, located on the slopes of the south hill at an altitude of 270 meters, which is mainly calcareous soil and planted with vines with an average age of 35-45 years.
The most famous of these is its La Spinetta Gallina, which is home to at least 50-year-old vines and is aged for 20-22 months in 100% new small oak barrels. Some people may not like the dry red aged in the new oak barrels, but it is undeniable that the Barbaresco dry red of Spinita Winery is rich and rich, and the pure fruity and rich spice flavor can be felt, and the structure is also very powerful and very distinctive.
Barbaresco, which produces only 1/3 of Barolo, can be called The "King and Queen of Wine" in Italy, along with Barolo, and its quality is already evident. But it is also because of its small size that many wineries are family-owned boutique wineries, and because the 3 Giants of Barbaresco shine too brightly, other quality producers are often overlooked. With this list, I hope that the wine lovers who love Barbaresco's dry red can have more choices, and maybe there will be surprises waiting for you!
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Which wineries have you drunk on the above list?