Gaja (wine)

Gaja is an Italian wine producer from the Piemonte region in the district of Langhe, chiefly producing a number of Barbaresco and Barolo wines, and later diversified into Brunello di Montalcino and "Super Tuscan" production. Its current owner and president Angelo Gaja is credited with developing techniques that have revolutionised winemaking in Italy,Kissack, Chris, thewinedoctor.com Gaja and terms such as "the undisputed king of Barbaresco",Virbila, S. Irene, Los Angeles Times (August 13, 2003). 2000 Angelo Gaja Ca’ Marcanda Magari and "the man who dragged Piedmont into the modern world"McInerney, Jay, The Wall Street Journal: On Wine (June 17, 2010). The New Gaja in Town have been applied to him, and whose Barbaresco wine is considered a status symbol on a par with Château Lafite Rothschild or Champagne Krug.

Additionally, Gaja Distribuzione imports to Italy high-end wines from elsewhere in the world including Champagne, Sauternes and Bordeaux, Spanish and Californian wine, as well as spirits and glassware.

History The Gaja winery was founded in 1859 by Giovanni Gaja, the Gaja family having arrived from Spain during the 17th century.Prial, Frank J., The New York Times (August 30, 1989). Wine Talk The family Gaja opened a tavern in Barbaresco, serving its wines with the food. At the end of the 19th century, Gaja wines were bottled and supplied to the Italian army in Abyssinia.

In 1937, Giovanni Gaja, grandson of the founder, first put the name Gaja in big red letters on his bottles' labels. The firm progressed following World War II as Giovanni Gaja made a significant series of vineyard purchases in terms of scale and vineyard quality. Also cited as an important influence to the firm's early success is the mother of Giovanni Gaja, Clotilda Rey, who instilled the principles of working to achieve high quality to attract the desired clientele, and set high prices to manifest the prestige of the product.O'Keefe, Kerin, The Wine News (October/November 2006). Barbaresco Breaks Rank

Angelo Gaja Angelo Gaja (born 1940), great-grandson of Giovanni Gaja, began his career with the company in 1961 at the age of 21. He had completed his studies in wine making at the Enological Institute in Alba and at the University of Montpellier in France, and held a degree in economics from the University of Turin. At the time there were only about 100 people producing Barbaresco and Barolo. Thanks to his family's acquisitions, the young Gaja was already a major vineyard owner in Barbaresco.

Following several trips to France and ongoing disputes with his father, Angelo Gaja introduced several practices to the region over the following years that were revolutionary to the vinification of Nebbiolo. In 1961 he began the first experiments with green harvest or diradamento. Single vineyard production was started with Sorí San Lorenzo in 1967, Sorí Tildin in 1970 and Costa Russi in 1978. Since 1970 Gaja has employed the eminent oenologist Guido Rivella. Gaja is also credited with introducing to Piemonte malolactic fermentation, from the 1975–1976 vintage implementing French barriques ten years after initial experiments, bringing in thermo-controllable fermentation equipment and French grape varieties, and eventually grand cru prices.Echikson, William, The Wall Street Journal (September 9, 2005). Barolos, Barbarescos Provoke the Palate With Complex Tastes Giovanni Gaja opposed his son's use of new barriques and the decision to plant French grape varieties.

In 1977 Gaja formed Gaja Distribuzione, an importer and distributor of wines and wine accessories from other countries.

In 1978 the Darmagi vineyard in Barbaresco, a prime Nebbiolo site, was planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. Gaja stated this was done not because of his love for Cabernet Sauvignon, but from the belief that only by making a great Cabernet, aged in barriques, could he persuade the world that Italian wines were capable of greatness. And only by succeeding on terms accepted by the rest of the world could he draw attention to the great wines made from Italy's indigenous grapes.Asimov, Eric, The New York Times: The Pour (October 18, 2007). When Italy Brought Home a Taste of France This was followed in 1979 when The Gaia & Rey vineyard in Treiso was planted with Chardonnay. Later in 1983, Sauvignon Blanc was planted in the Alteni di Brassica vineyard in Barbaresco.

Considered a modernist in a traditional region, Gaja was criticised for his approach in the early years, but unlike many other modernists, Gaja is judicious in the use of new oak. Gaja ferments his wines for up to 30 days, a traditional method instead of the modernist five-day fermentations, and although he employs barriques (⅓ new oak) for the first year of aging, the process is finished in big botti (traditional 10-100+hL casks, Slavonian oak or historically chestnut, some of which c. 80–120 years old).Asimov, Eric, The New York Times (February 5, 2003). In Piedmont, a New Landscape for Barolo Piemonte producers who became inspired by Gaja's methods include Renato Ratti and Aldo Conterno, while Bruno Giacosa is considered by many to be Gaja's "polar opposite".

The reputation of Gaja has evolved over the years as his uncompromising policies have produced tremendous results. He refused to sell of 1984 Barbaresco under the Gaja label because the quality did not meet his standards. He sold the wine off in bulk, to the horror of his family. His stature has also been strengthened by commendations such as the Wine Spectator proclamation that the 1985 Gaja Barbarescos were "the finest wines ever made in Italy", the selection for the 1997 Wine Spectator Distinguished Service Award,Wine Spectator 1997 Distinguished Service Award: Angelo Gaja and for "1998 Decanter Man of the Year".

In 1988 Gaja returned to Barolo with the acquisition of of property, having previously rented vineyards there and then discontinued the activity when the strategy called for focus on self-owned single vineyards. The Barolo Sperss was first released in 1992. Further acquisitions saw Gaja own property in Montalcino Tuscany with the Pieve Santa Restituta estate in 1994, Gromis property in La Morra for the production of Barolo Conteisa Cerequio in 1995 and the Ca'Marcanda property in Bolgheri, Tuscany, in 1996.

Angelo Gaja has declared he will not expand the firm's holding outside Italy's borders, although in 1989 he came close to a joint venture with the Napa Valley magnate Robert Mondavi. He eventually declined, reflecting that it would be "like a mosquito having sex with an elephant: very dangerous and not much pleasure".

With the 1996 vintage, Angelo Gaja intentionally declassified his DOCG Barbaresco and Barolo wines, with the exception of one, moving them to the lower DOC class Langhe Rosso.Baudains, Richard, Decanter.com (May 23, 2006). Beyond Barolo Denying rumours contending that this unprecedented decision was stemmed from a desire to blend his Barbarescos and Barolos with international grapes, Gaja stated that among the reasons was that he wanted to remain free to include small percentages of Barbera in the wines (typically only 5 or 6 percent) as a "correction for acidity".Tanzer, Stephen, International Wine Cellar (November 2004). Angelo Gaja, Barbaresco Gaja explained further, "I know what many journalists and others in the industry have said and continue to say, but my decision was actually made in support of Barbaresco. My family focused on Barbaresco made with Nebbiolo from 14 of the estate's vineyards, and it has always been the firm's historic wine. But while our single vineyard bottlings grew in prestige, our Barbaresco was suddenly referred to as normale or "basic", and considered inferior to the mono-crus, which I never intended. My family has been making wine and striving for excellence for over 150 years. I don't want anything we make to be considered 'regular'. So now I have one Barbaresco only."

Past the age of 70, Angelo Gaja has passed on the routine running of the firm to his daughters, Gaia and Rossana Gaja and Son, Giovanni Gaja, although has not yet declared himself retired.Atkin, Tim, Decanter.com (May 21, 2010). Angelo Gaja interview

Fifth generation of winemaking

Since 2004, the primary figurehead and executive’s of the Gaja vineyard are his children, Gaia Gaja, Rossana Gaja, and Giovanni Gaja. Under their supervision, reclassification of such wines as Sorì Tilden, Sori San Lorenzo and Costa Russi, and Sperrs; these wines are currently produced as DOCG Barbaresco and Barolo respectively.

Production Gaja produces in all 18 different wines from vineyards in Piedmont , within the Barbaresco zone Barbaresco and Treiso and the Barolo zone Serralunga d'Alba and La Morra, in Montalcino and Bolgheri , with a total annual production of 350,000 bottles.

Barbaresco Gaja Barbaresco DOCG The Gaja estate flagship wine which has been produced since its founding in 1859.

It is a 100% Nebbiolo varietal wine sourced from 14 different Barbaresco zone vineyards. It has 12 months of barrique aging and then 12 months of aging in large oak casks.

Costa Russi A single vineyard acquired by the Gaja family in 1967. The name comes from the term "costa", the side of a hill facing the sun, and "Russi" a nickname of the previous owner.

Its grape variety distribution from vintage 1996 to 2011 was c. 95% Nebbiolo and 5% Barbera, with 12 months in barriques and then 12 months in large oak casks. From 1996 to 2011 it was classified Langhe Nebbiolo DOC. Starting with the 2013 vintage the Costa Russi along with the other two single vineyard Barbaresco wines saw the removal of the 5% Barbera and a return to being classified as Barbaresco DOCG. Sorì Tildìn A vineyard acquired by the Gaja family in 1967, first produced as a single-vineyard wine in 1970. "Sorì" is a Piedmontese word for "hilltop with southern exposure" and "Tildìn" was a nickname of Clotilde Rey, Angelo Gaja's grandmother.

Sorì San Lorenzo A vineyard bought from the parish of Alba in 1964, named after San Lorenzo, the patron saint of Alba's cathedral.

Barolo Sperss Having purchased grapes from Serralunga for the Gaja Barolo until 1961, this ceased with the decision to produce only from estate-owned vineyards. In 1988, Gaja bought the vineyard. The name is Piedmontese for "nostalgia", indicating a longing to return to the making of Barolo after several years of absence.

Its grape variety distribution is c. 100% Nebbiolo, with 12 months in barriques followed by 12 months in large oak casks. Starting with the 1996 vintage it was classified Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, but with the 2013 vintage has returned to Barolo DOCG status.

Conteisa (Conteisa Cerequio) The name is Piedmontese for "quarrel", referring to a historic dispute between the communes La Morra and Barolo, both claiming the Cerequio land.

Its grape variety distribution is c. 100% Nebbiolo, with 12 months in barriques followed by 12 months in large oak casks. It is classified Langhe Nebbiolo DOC.

Dagromis

Gaja (wine)

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