Barbaresco is the second most prestigious Italian wine made from 100% Nebbiolo. While Barolo is often called “the King of wines”, Barbaresco is known as “the Queen”. The typical Barbaresco has a complex flavor of dried rose, liqorice, and dried red fruits. Depending on the style of oak ageing – from small barriques to large oak barrels – expect a varying intensity of black pepper, cloves, espresso, and cinnamon. The Barbaresco DOCG is located on the Langhe hills 3 miles north-east from Barolo, and surrounds three villages: Neive, Treiso and Barbaresco. How does Barbaresco compare to Barolo? Both appellations live very close to each other on the Langhe hills, but there are distinct differences. In Barbaresco, the hills here are 50 metres lower than in Barolo, and Nebbiolo grapes are planted on south-facing slopes, between 150-350 metres for optimal ripeness (the cooler, north-facing slopes are used for white grapes). Barbaresco is slightly warmer than Barolo, because its hills are closer to the Tanaro river, and Nebbiolo here ripens seven days earlier. Barbaresco DOCG has 677 hectares of vineyards, producing 4.3 million bottles of Barbaresco wine (ISMEA, 2019) – both about three times less than Barolo.