Barbaresco, Piedmont
The Gaja family settled in Piedmont in the mid-seventeenth century and have been producing wines in Piedmont’s Langhe area since 1859, the year Giovanni Gaja, a local grape grower, founded the Gaja winery in Barbaresco. The Gaja name represents a legacy of quality and has always been recognized as one of the iconic names in the production of Barbaresco. Following World War II, the family made a significant series of vineyard purchases in terms of scale and vineyard quality in order to adhere at the high standards and total dedication to uncompromising excellence.
Since founding Giovanni, until Angelo Gaja, this family has been able to establish itself in the global wine scene thanks to a unique philosophy: the quest for quality. Angelo Gaja joined the winery in 1961 and from the very beginning he proved to have great personality by making important choices: he kept his family’s high standards of production and respect for the traditions of the Langhe at very high level but at the same time he introduced audacious innovations in the vineyards as well as in the cellar. He also introduced his wines to foreign markets and consolidated the fame of Barbaresco around the world.
The 1967 debut release of Sorì San Lorenzo began his pioneering work with the vinification of single-vineyard wines. This was succeeded by two additional crus, Sorì Tildin (1970) and Costa Russi (1978), both of which derive from the Roncagliette Vineyard. Each member of this legendary trio is both recognized for achieving a substantive period of maturation and avidly sought on the collector’s market, where all invariably enjoy a substantive degree of appreciation.
Gaja didn’t stop there, however, going on to defy Piemonte’s varietal protocol by re-launching Cabernet Sauvignon’s presence in the region after nearly a century-long absence, a revolutionary act captured in the vineyard’s name, Darmagi, meaning “what a pity”, the expression his father would utter when he passed by the spot, formerly a Nebbiolo site. He continued to elicit unrest and disapprobation through his dedicated planting of Chardonnay in the Gaia & Rey Vineyard (1981), the source of his now famous eponymous bottling. This was followed shortly thereafter by a vineyard for Sauvignon Blanc, Alteni di Brassica.
Gaja has built around himself the image of a strong and indispensable brand, a symbol of the greatness of Barbaresco and a wine that tell the poetry of its territory in the glass. Nowadays, Angelo’s children, Gaia, Rossana, and Giovanni, represent the fifth generation and they run the family business with same philosophy and dedication to uncompromising quality. The wines always rank amongst the very finest the world has to offer, with global devotees and huge critical acclaim.
Main Wines
Rossj-Bass
Alteni di Brassica
Gaia & Rey
Barbaresco
Barbaresco Sorì Tildin
Barbaresco Costa Russi
Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo
Barolo Dagromis
Barolo Conteisa
Barolo Sperss