Cantina Sociale dei Produttori del Barbaresco Piedmont

The DOCG Barbaresco district is in the wine-rich area of the Piedmont in Northwest Italy, a two-hour drive from Milan and about an hour and half from the French border. The tiny Barbaresco district includes the three villages of Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso covering 1,250 acres of Nebbiolo grapes, which produce 208,000 cases of Barbaresco every year. Separated from the Barolo area by the town of Alba, Barbaresco is covered by wineyards of mainly three different varieties: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera. Nebbiolo is always planted to the best areas where the composition of the pre-Alpine soils, aspect, sun exposure and human touch combine to create the magic of Barbaresco wine. Before 1894, Nebbiolo grapes where sold to make Barolo wine or simply labeled "Nebbiolo di Barbaresco", but in 1894, Domizio Cavazza, headmaster of the Royal Enological School of Alba and a Barbaresco resident, created the first cooperative, the "Cantine Sociali", by gathering nine Barbaresco vineyard owners to make wine in the local castle that he owned. He understood the differences between the same grape, the Nebbiolo, grown in the different areas of Barolo and Barbaresco and for the first time, recognized it on the label. The "Cantine Sociali" was closed in the 1920's because of fascist economic rules. In 1958, the priest of the village of Barbaresco, recognizing that the only way the small properties could survive was by joining their efforts, gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco. The first three vintages were made in the church basement, then in the winery built across the square where the Produttori is still located. United once again, the small growers continued the work started by Domizio Cavazza, producing only Barbaresco wine and enhancing both the reputation of the wine and the village. The Produttori del Barbaresco, founded in 1958, now has 56 members and 250 acres of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appelation, which is almost 1/6 of the vineyards of the area. Each family is in full control of its land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with centuries old skill and dedication. "Half a century of unremitting success has been driven by the ageing capacity of the various Barbaresco Riservas and a pricing policy that is very much in the consumer's favour." Gambero Rosso 2010

Barbaresco 2007 "Medium red. Aromas of smoke and camphor. Fatter and plumper than the 2008 version, offering more flesh but less cut and verve. Showing more sweet spices than primary fruit. Finishes with big, broad, horizontal tannins." 88 points, International Wine Cellar, Oct 2011

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All wines are available by the unmixed case to Licensees and Private Consumers, subject to availability.

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