Roagna
Whatever Luca Roagna turns his hand to becomes liquid gold. The prodigy of the Langhe region leads, in the fifth generation, an estate whose history began in 1880 – when Vincenzo and Rosa Roagna bottled their first Barbaresco. Together with his father Alfredo, Luca now cultivates 15 hectares across the two renowned villages of Barolo and Barbaresco. His style: large wooden casks rather than barriques, a minimum of four years' ageing, and no compromises. Demand far exceeds supply.
The wines
None of this estate's wines can currently be delivered to Switzerland. Browse all wines
Five Generations, One Creed
The story begins in 1880, when Vincenzo and Rosa Roagna bottled their first wine in Barbaresco. Five generations later, Luca Roagna carries the legacy forward – together with his father Alfredo, who handed down to him not only the vineyards but also an uncompromising philosophy. 15 hectares in two communes: Barbaresco, with the legendary Cru Pajé, and since 1990 Barolo too, with the historic Pira parcel in Castiglione Falletto.
Where Time Stands Still
You will look in vain for small barriques in Luca's cellar. Large wooden casks and concrete tanks rule here – vessels that let the Nebbiolo breathe without dominating it. At least four years of ageing before a wine leaves the estate. In a world of rapid releases, that is a statement. The vineyards? Grass-covered, biodiverse, free of pesticides and herbicides. Some vines are more than 50 years old, like those in the tiny Montefico vineyard – just 0.24 hectares, acquired in 1929.
The Art of Patience
Luca, born in 1981, took over the winemaking shortly after graduating from oenology school in 2001. In Piedmont he is known not only as a winemaker but as a wine scholar – his knowledge of rare wines from far beyond the Langhe is legendary. His wines? Finely wrought, delicate, yet with all the structure needed for decades of ageing. Anyone who manages to get hold of a Crichët Pajé or Barolo Pira is holding a piece of Piedmontese wine history.
Rarities for the Patient
Production is tiny and allocations are strict. Alongside the great wines, Roagna also makes Grappa di Barbaresco and Grappa di Barolo – the perfect end to a Piedmontese evening. Our range also includes other great Langhe producers who work just as uncompromisingly, such as Sottimano.