Barbaresco D.O.P. - GAJA

Angelo Gaja and the wines from the GAJA winery hardly need any introduction. The Gaja family settled in Piedmont as early as the middle of the seventeenth century. Since then, 5 generations have alternated in wine production since Giovanni Gaja founded the winery in Barbaresco, in the territory of the Langhe, in 1859.

Angelo Gaja followed his father Giovanni as head of the family enterprise in the early 1960s. At the time blending grapes from different vineyards and villages was the practice in Piedmont. Some wineries may have even used grapes from outside the region. A few winemakers including Angelo Gaja, Bruno Giacosa, Beppe Colla of Prunotto and Alfredo Currado at Vietti started making wines from a single vineyard.

Under the leadership of Angelo Gaja, the wines of the family-owned winery have proved to be innovative and, at times revolutionary. For most of his life he has been a visionary man on a mission: To do what it takes to explore ways to improve the quality of his wines.

The Nebbiolo vines for the Barbaresco grow in 14 Gaja vineyards  located in the municipality of Barbaresco at altitudes between 250 and 330 m. The plants are 40 years old on average. 2015 provided ideal weather conditions before the harvest, which allowed the grapes to ripen quickly and evenly producing perfectly ripe fruit with exceptionally regular bunches.

The grapes were carefully hand-picked, sorted, and destemmed. The grapes, coming from each single vineyard were then fermented and macerated separately in steel vats. At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wines were matured in barriques for 12 months. After assembling the wine underwent a further period of ageing in large oak barrels for 12 months.

Longevity: Very long.