HISTORY
The most significant dates in the history of Barbaresco are retraced below
1799
1870
1894
The first written mention referring to Barbaresco and its wines dates back to this date.
It is the year reported on the label of the oldest bottle of Barbaresco in which the name of the town is associated with the wine to identify it.
Domizio Cavazza, at the time director of the Royal Enological School of Alba, purchased the Barbaresco castle with properties in the Pora and Ovello areas and founded the Cantine Sociali di Barbaresco: thus began Cavazza's fundamental work of improving the quality of Barbaresco. In that year he codified the modern method for the vinification of Nebbiolo and launched Barbaresco wine, vinified dry, on the national markets, alongside the already famous Barolo.
1899
1908
1912
Thanks to the work of the Cantina Sociale, a bill is presented in Parliament for the "protection of real Barolo and Barbaresco wines" from fraud and falsification. This is one of the first attempts at legislative action in the wine field in Italy.
The producers of Nebbiolo di Barbaresco grapes and wine form the Trade Union Association for the production and trade of genuine Nebbiolo di Barbaresco, following whose example the first Consortium for the Protection of Barolo and Barbaresco was later established in the 1930s.
Domizio Cavazza dies. The renewal he implemented in Barbaresco, which had brought national attention to wine and the country, was first slowed down and then completely extinguished by the start of the First World War.
1922
1926
1933
Ten years after Cavazza's death, the Cantina Sociale of Barbaresco closes. Nebbiolo continues to be cultivated, but the autarky imposed by fascism leads to the conversion of many vineyards into arable land and fields. In these years the production of wine was mainly controlled by traders from Alba who bought the grapes at a low price.
For the first time the area of origin of Barbaresco is officially delimited
The area of origin of Barbaresco is expanded, including the entire territory of the Municipality of Neive. In the same year, Barbaresco, together with Barolo, was recognized as a typical fine wine.
1958
1961
1966
After decades of uncertainty, the renewal process for the Barbaresco area resumes, the beginning of which coincides with the foundation of the Barbaresco Producers' Cooperative. Created by the far-sighted work of the town's parish priest, Don Marengo Fiorino, to protect farmers from the uncertainties of the grape market and to continue Cavazza's work, it initially brought together nineteen winemakers (today there are 63). Following in the footsteps of the first Cantina Sociale of 1894, Produttori specialized from the beginning in the processing of a single grape variety, Nebbiolo.
The Gaja company of Barbaresco decides to vinify only its own grapes, thus giving up on producing Barolo and making Barbaresco the company's flagship wine.
With the Presidential decree of 23 April, Barbaresco, together with Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti, obtained DOC (controlled designation of origin) recognition, aimed at protecting the originality of the great Italian wines.
1958
1961
1966
After decades of uncertainty, the renewal process for the Barbaresco area resumes, the beginning of which coincides with the foundation of the Barbaresco Producers' Cooperative. Created by the far-sighted work of the town's parish priest, Don Marengo Fiorino, to protect farmers from the uncertainties of the grape market and to continue Cavazza's work, it initially brought together nineteen winemakers (today there are 63). Following in the footsteps of the first Cantina Sociale of 1894, Produttori specialized from the beginning in the processing of a single grape variety, Nebbiolo.
The Gaja company of Barbaresco decides to vinify only its own grapes, thus giving up on producing Barolo and making Barbaresco the company's flagship wine.
With the Presidential decree of 23 April, Barbaresco, together with Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti, obtained DOC (controlled designation of origin) recognition, aimed at protecting the originality of the great Italian wines.
1967
1980
1986
The vinification and marketing of Barbaresco begins with the claim of the vineyard on the label.
With the Presidential decree of 3 October, Barbaresco becomes a DOCG wine (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin).
The Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco is inaugurated.
1997
Under the aegis of the Protection Consortium, the four Municipalities of the area of origin proceed with the official mapping of the sub-areas of production of Barbaresco wine.
2007
Under the aegis of the Protection Consortium, the four Municipalities of the area of origin proceed with the official mapping of the sub-areas of production of Barbaresco wine.
