Straddling either side of Italy’s famous truffle town Alba, the small villages of Barolo and Barbaresco aren’t far in distance but their expressions of Nebbiolo can taste worlds apart. Nebbiolo is one of the oldest grape varieties from Piedmont, a prized wine-producing region in northwest Italy that borders France and Switzerland. Here, the average vineyard size measures just five acres. 

“Traditionally, Barolo has been referred to as the king of wines, and Barbaresco as its queen,” says Quality Branded’s wine and beverage director Meng Chiang, who oversees the wine list at San Sabino, the new sister spot to New York City’s iconic Italian-American restaurant Don Angie.