---
title: "Barolo and Barbaresco: A Guide to Nebbiolo’s Two Great DOCGs · Covalli"
url: "https://covallivineyards.com/guides/barolo-and-barbaresco"
---

Barolo, seen from La MorraPhoto: Helge Høifødt, [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Article

# Barolo and Barbaresco: A Guide to Nebbiolo’s Two Great DOCGs

Two villages either side of Alba, one grape, and the two most celebrated red wines of Piemonte.

Updated 21 October 2026

[Covalli](https://covallivineyards.com/) [Articles](https://covallivineyards.com/guides) Barolo and Barbaresco

## One grape, two hillsides

Barolo and Barbaresco are both made entirely from Nebbiolo, a late-ripening red grape whose name is usually traced to _nebbia_, the autumn fog that settles over the Langhe hills at harvest. The two zones sit on either side of the town of Alba: Barolo to the south-west, Barbaresco to the north-east, along the Tanaro river.

Both were among the first Italian wines to receive DOCG status, the highest tier of the Italian classification. The rules of each denomination fix where the grapes may grow, that the wine is pure Nebbiolo, and how long it must age before release.

## How the two differ

Barolo must age for at least 38 months before release, at least 18 of them in wood, and five years for a Riserva. Barbaresco must age for at least 26 months, at least 9 in wood, and four years for a Riserva. The longer minimum reflects the style: Barolo is generally the broader, firmer wine, Barbaresco the more perfumed and approachable one at the same age.

The Barolo zone covers eleven communes, among them La Morra and Verduno, where the grapes for [Covalli Barolo](https://covallivineyards.com/wines/barolo-2021) are grown on clay and calcareous soil. Barbaresco is smaller, centred on the communes of Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso.

## In the glass

Nebbiolo is pale for so serious a wine: garnet rather than purple, often with an orange rim as it ages. The scent is where it announces itself, with roses, red cherry, spice and tar, followed by firm tannin and bright acidity.

Covalli Barolo is ruby red, full and well balanced, with velvety tannins. Covalli Barbaresco is red garnet with orange highlights, an ethereal bouquet with hints of spice and almond, and a round, elegant, persistent finish.

## At the table

Both wines want food with weight. Covalli Barolo is made for big red meat dishes, such as _brasato_ (beef braised in red wine) or grilled meats, and for medium or mature cheeses. Covalli Barbaresco suits braised meats, mushroom risotto and blue cheese.

Serve both at 18 °C or a little above, in a large glass, and open the bottle a while before pouring: Nebbiolo opens up with air.

From the Range

## The Covalli Wines

 [![James Suckling, 90 points](https://covallivineyards.com/assets/score-badges/james-suckling-90.png)Piemonte Barolo 2021 Barolo DOCG](https://covallivineyards.com/wines/barolo-2021)[ ![James Suckling, 91 points](https://covallivineyards.com/assets/score-badges/james-suckling-91.png)Piemonte Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG](https://covallivineyards.com/wines/barbaresco)

More Articles

## Read on.

-   [
    
    ![Steep vineyard rows curving across a hillside toward a distant village](https://covallivineyards.com/assets/region/monforte-1600.jpg)
    
    Photo: Christoph Strässler, CC BY-SA 2.0
    
    Nebbiolo Beyond Barolo: Langhe and Monferrato The grape of Barolo, from the wider hills of Piemonte, made to be opened sooner.](https://covallivineyards.com/guides/langhe-and-monferrato-nebbiolo)
-   [
    
    ![Golden autumn vines on a slope, with a village bell tower on the far ridge](https://covallivineyards.com/assets/region/langhe-autumn-1600.jpg)
    
    Photo: Ida Astrid, CC BY-SA 4.0
    
    Barbera d’Asti and Dolcetto d’Alba: The Everyday Reds of Piemonte The wines Piemonte drinks at its own table while the Barolo waits in the cellar.](https://covallivineyards.com/guides/barbera-and-dolcetto)
-   [
    
    ![Terraced vineyards climbing a steep green hillside dotted with trees and small houses](https://covallivineyards.com/assets/region/prosecco-hills-1600.jpg)
    
    Photo: Patafisik, CC BY-SA 4.0
    
    Prosecco: Brut, Extra Dry and Rosé Italy’s sparkling wine from the Veneto: what the words on the label mean, and how to serve each style.](https://covallivineyards.com/guides/prosecco)
-   [Amarone della Valpolicella: The Dried-Grape Red of the Veneto A red wine from the hills north of Verona, made from grapes left to dry for months before they are pressed.](https://covallivineyards.com/guides/amarone)
-   [The Spritz and Limoncello: An Italian Aperitivo at Home The hour before dinner, the Italian way: a spritz to open, a limoncello to close.](https://covallivineyards.com/guides/spritz-and-limoncello)