Barbaresco is a prestigious and high-quality Italian red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape, which is grown in the Langhe area of the Piedmont region, specifically in and around the town of Barbaresco. It is one of Italy's most acclaimed wines, alongside Barolo, which is also made from Nebbiolo but in a nearby location. Barbaresco is known for its elegance, complexity, and capacity for aging, displaying a lighter body compared to Barolo due to the slightly different soil and climatic conditions.

Barbaresco was granted Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1966 and was elevated to Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) status in 1980. The DOCG regulations dictate strict production criteria, including the geographic area of production, grape variety (100% Nebbiolo), maximum yield per hectare, minimum alcohol content, and aging requirements. Barbaresco must be aged for a minimum of two years, at least one of which must be in oak barrels, before release. For the riserva designation, the aging requirement extends to four years. These rules help ensure the high quality and distinctiveness of Barbaresco wine.