The Produttori del Barbaresco Wine Cooperative: Wine Styles, Best Bottles (2024)

Produttori del Barbaresco is a leading Italian wine producer and one-of-a-kind wine cooperative of 51 growers in the Barbaresco appellation in Piedmont.

Produttori del Barbaresco uses high-quality Nebbiolo grapes to craft elegant Barbaresco wines that come in 11 nuanced styles.

Let’s discover these diverse wine styles, the best foods to pair them with, and some fascinating facts about Produttori del Barbaresco.

What’s Unique About Produttori del Barbaresco?

Antonio Galloni, the celebrated wine critic and CEO of Vinous, calls the Produttori del Barbaresco ‘one of the world’s top cooperatives.’

Produttori del Barbaresco focuses on a single grape variety (Nebbiolo) and exclusively produces Barbaresco wines. The diverse wine styles are born out of the terroir of nine premium Nebbiolo vineyards on the Langhe hillslopes. 

Winemaking is similar for all labels, focusing on the extraction of both firm and soft tannins. The large oak casks used for the wines’ aging are replaced regularly to prevent spoilage.

The best vintage wines from the crus are set aside for an extra year of aging to produce flagship single vineyard Barbarescos called Riserva wines.

What Is the Origin Story of Produttori del Barbaresco?

Historically, Nebbiolo grapes were either sold to produce Barolo wines or labeled as ‘Nebbiolo di Barbaresco.’ 

In 1894, a cooperative of 9 growers was founded in Barbaresco that helped the region develop into a separate wine district. 

But the cooperative was shut down in the 1930s due to fascist economic policies.

About thirty years later, the village priest of Barbaresco united nineteen small growers to form the cooperative called Produttori del Barbaresco. The cooperative produced its first three Barbaresco vintages in a church basement..

The 11 Produttori del Barbaresco Wine Styles, Characteristics, Best Bottles to Buy in 2024

The different vineyards of Produttori del Barbaresco are spread across over 100 hectares (250 acres). The prominent wine styles of the winery are:

• Barbaresco Riserva
• Nebbiolo Langhe
• Asili
• Rabaja 
• Pora
• Montestefano 
• Ovello 
• Paje
• Montefico
• Moccagatta (Muncagota)
• Rio Sordo

Let’s look at each one of these.

1. Barbaresco Riserva

Barbaresco Riserva is made with two varieties of Nebbiolo - Michet and Lampia from the Barbaresco, Neive, and Treiso hills and parts of the San Rocco Seno d’Elvio d’Alba village.

With ample sun exposure, warm microclimate, and clayey limestone soil, the region offers an ideal terroir for unique Barbaresco DOCG wines. Barbaresco Riserva is only produced during favorable years and can age for 10 to 20 years. 

This Italian wine style reveals an addictive black cherry, red fruit, and spice tasting note with intense wild berry, menthol aromas.

The 1964 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Speciale Barbaresco DOCG ($174) is anoutstanding vintage Barbaresco Riserva wine.

2. Nebbiolo Langhe

The Langhe DOC regulations permit adding 15% indigenous varieties like Barbera and Dolcetto to this Nebbiolo wine. However, Produttori del Barbaresco produces Nebbiolo Langhe only with 100% Nebbiolo grapes. 

The grapes are grown on the Langhe hills, near the right bank of the Tanaro river. 

The Langhe Nebbiolo wine can be drunk young but has an aging potential of about a decade.

Nebbiolo Langhe opens with mesmerizing dark fruit aromas in a heady palate of wild berry and plum.

The 2017 Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo ($31) is an exceptional expression of Barbaresco wine from Italy.

3. Asili

The 15-hectare ​​Asili vineyard has a terroir of clay marl and limestone. It is spread over the Bricco Asili hill, with a warmer lower region and a cooler, breezy upper terrain. 

The full-bodied Asili wine is one of Produttori’s limited-release Grand Crus, defined by bold woodland berry and spice flavors.

A remarkably intense Asili wine to try is the 2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Asili ($99.) 

4. Rabaja 

Rabaja vineyard is located 310 meters above sea level in the Barbaresco region and has limestone-rich soil.

Rabaja wines have a substantial aging potential of 7 to 15 years, with some bottles ranking among the best age-worthy wines of Barbaresco. Produttori released the first vintage Rabaja wine in 1970.

The great vintages of Rabaja offer richness and a refreshing black cherry nose with dominant sweet red berry fruit and plum tasting notes.

The 2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja ($109) is a fine specimen of the classic Barbaresco wine style.

5. Pora

The Pora vineyard is situated 300 meters above sea level and offers optimal exposure for Nebbiolo plantations on its upper slopes. 

The Pora cru has the richest soil in the Barbaresco village, and its wines were first bottled by the Produttori cooperative in 1967.

This wine exudes lovely red fruit aromas and presents delectable cherry and spice flavors.

Enjoy the 2000 Produttori del Barbaresco Pora ($142) for a mesmerizing taste of the Produttori Pora wine style.

6. Montestefano 

The Montestefano vineyard is located atop a ridge between the Barbaresco and Neive villages. Its wine is also called the “Barolo of Barbaresco” for its firm tannin mouthfeel and bold palate. 

Montestefano was also among the first cru wines to be bottled by the winery. Some Montestefano wines can be cellared for 40 to 50 years.

The great vintages of Montestefano are delectable with alluring red fruit and black cherry flavors.

The 2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano ($78) is an irresistible Piedmont Barbaresco wine.

7. Ovello 

Ovello is the northernmost cru of Barbaresco, located at 220 to 290 meters above sea level. The 6.58-hectare vineyard has vines facing west or southwest with more clayey soil than other Barbaresco crus.

Ovello labels have excellent aging potential among Piemonte wines and blossom to perfection after 20 years. They are also the oldest cru wines of the Produttori del Barbaresco winery - the first Ovello wine was released in 1970.

This wine has a firm tannin mouthfeel offset by a wild berry tasting note and refreshing licorice, menthol aromas.

Try the 2011 Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello ($83) for a charming age-worthy Nebbiolo wine from Italy.

8. Paje

Produttori del Barbaresco released the first vintage Paje label in 1982. Though the vineyard spans only 2.43 hectares, it produces aromatic wines similar to the Rabaja style.

Paje’s cooler microclimate is conducive to producing more acidic wines than the neighboring premium Nebbiolo vineyards.

Intense plum and sweet red berry fruit notes lend heft to Paje vintage wines.

You can get a hold of the 2005 Produttori del Barbaresco 'Paje' ($126) to relish an exceptional Piemonte wine.

9. Montefico

The Montefico vineyard lies along the Neive border to the north of Montestefano.  

With only 500 bottles of the vintage in a good year, Montefico wines are one of Produttori del Barbaresco’s limited-edition releases.

The expressive wine is deceivingly mature in its early years but has an aging potential comparable to Montestefano labels.

This balanced wine style exudes effusive licorice aromas with brilliant black cherry notes.

An excellent Montefico wine to try is the 2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico ($86.)

10. Moccagatta (Muncagota)

Moccagatta was one of Produttori del Barbaresco’s inaugural crus first released in 1967. The vineyard has a southeasterly exposure at 300 meters above sea level and receives more morning sunlight.

The Produttori winery owns 2.4 hectares of the vineyard and produces rich Burgundy-style wines from the cru. 

The Muncagota is a delicate wine with seductive red fruit and woodland berry notes.

You can relish an extraordinary Pietmonte red with the 2005 Produttori del Barbaresco 'Muncagota' ($106.)

11. Rio Sordo

Rio Sordo is a 4.56-hectare vineyard situated 270 meters above sea level on a ridge to the south of Asili and Rabaja. Produttori first bottled a Rio Sordo vintage wine in 1978.

The vineyard has southwest exposure and clay-limestone soil that produces concentrated, flavorful Nebbiolo grapes. The aging potential of Rio Sordo wines ranges from 8 to 30 years.

The expressive wine boasts a velvety tannin mouthfeel, layered richness, dark fruit flavors, and an elegant licorice nose.

The 2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo ($75) is an exquisite bottle of the Rio Sordo style of Barbaresco wine.

Best Food Pairing for Produttori del Barbaresco Wines

These Produttori del Barbaresco fine wine bottles pair beautifully with rich foods like beef, pork, veal, duck, mushroom sauce, venison, and pasta. 

Celebrate With A Produttori del Barbaresco Now!

Produttori del Barbaresco was pivotal in establishing Barbaresco as a leading wine destination. 

It has perfected the art of producing diverse wine styles using a single grape variety. 

Stock a bottle or two of the fine wine labels to surprise guests at your next house party.

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