09/05/07 Barbolo vs Barbaresco

Welcome to Vine to wine this is your host Linda Moran. Today we are going to discuss the Italian wines Barolo and Barbaresco. Yesterday we did a program about growing Italian grape varieties in the United States and I mentioned the grape variety Nebbiolo, and was asked what is Nebbiolo? Well Nebbiolo an Italian grape variety grown in the Piedmont region in northwestern Italy. You may know it better as Barolo or Barbaresco. Barolo is thought by many to be the most important area of Piedmont  if not the most important wine area in Italy. The wines are serious and are best when aged for a considerable amount of time. However, in neighboring Barbaresco the wines made from Nebbiolo are much more approachable and are able to be consumed much younger. A bonus is they usually a bit more affordable than the famed Barolos. For Barolo I like wines made by Also ConternoVietti and Luigi Enaudi. Barbaresco is another story as I usually look for Riserva wines. Meaning they have been aged at least three years in barrel. This of course is when I seek out wines made by Angelo Gaja. Gaja also blends Nebbiolo with less traditional grapes to make some spectacular blends. If you are interested, definitely ask your favorite wine merchant for some recommendations. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.