Side by sip · wine comparison

Wine VS

Line up two to four wines the way you'd say them. The guide covers 127 appellations and styles, and spelling doesn't need to be perfect.

Try
On the bench1Barolo2Barbaresco

Barolo vs Barbaresco

Barolo and Barbaresco side by side: structure on the WSET scale, grapes, aromas, drinking window, typical UK price and what to eat with each.

1

Barolo

Piedmont · Langhe, Italy
redPale garnet

Pale in the glass, fierce on the palate: 'tar and roses' with huge tannin.

2

Barbaresco

Piedmont · Langhe, Italy
redPale garnet

Nebbiolo with a touch more elegance and earlier approachability than Barolo.

Structure

On the palate

The shape of each wine, then each measure on the WSET scale.

SweetnessBodyTanninAcidityAlcoholOak
LowMed–MediumMed+High
Sweetnessdry → luscious
1
2
Body
1
2
Tannin
1
2
Acidity
1
2
Alcohol
1
2
Oak
1
2
What stands out

What you'll notice

  • Structure

    These are close in structure; the differences are mostly in grape, aroma and place.

  • Grapes

    Barolo: Nebbiolo, 100%
    Barbaresco: Nebbiolo, 100%

Ageing & price

When to drink, what to pay

Drinking window years from vintage

1 · Barolo
10–30 yrs
2 · Barbaresco
8–25 yrs
051020304050

Typical price UK retail, log scale

1 · Barolo
£30–150
2 · Barbaresco
£30–120
£5£10£20£50£100£200£500
In the glass

Aromas & flavours

Red fruitFloralHerbal & greenEarth & mineralSpice, oak & savoury
1Barolo
tarrosesour cherryliquoricetruffle
2Barbaresco
red cherryrosetarspicedried herbs
The detail

Place, grapes & food

BaroloBarbaresco
GrapesNebbiolo, 100%Nebbiolo, 100%
ClimateContinental, foggy autumnsContinental, a little warmer and lower than Barolo
SoilCalcareous marl and sandstoneCalcareous marl
ClassificationDOCG; named vineyards (MGA) such as Cannubi and BrunateDOCG
Drinking window10–30 years8–25 years
Typical price£30–£150£30–£120
FoodWhite truffle, braised veal, brasato al BaroloAgnolotti, roast veal, mushroom risotto
Producers to knowGiacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, ViettiGaja, Bruno Giacosa, Produttori del Barbaresco