Produced exclusively in the municipalities of Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso and part of the municipality of Alba, in Piedmont, Barbaresco is one of the first and most noble Italian denominations. The entire production area has been delimited in further areas, "Cru", to support the importance of the diversity of terroirs generated by the different pedo-climatic conditions, including: Kindergartens, Ca 'Grossa, Gallina, Ovello, Rabajà, Ronchi. It is produced by small winemakers, by prestigious cooperatives but also by names of world excellence, such as Gaja.

Barbaresco is made entirely from Nebbiolo grapes, such as Barolo, but the different production interpretations generate two clearly distinct wines, also by virtue of the aging which for Barbaresco has a much shorter duration, but which must still be at least 26 months, of which at least 5 months in wood. The soils of these areas have a slightly different composition than the Barolo production area. The soils are mainly made up of the famous gray-blue Marne di Sant'Agata, which contain a higher percentage of sand and sandstone layers. This small difference in land creates a wine that is often called "female Barolo".