Gaja Wine

Gaja is a family-owned winery and estate in the Italian region of Tuscany. The estate boasts a huge 150 acres and is dedicated to growing multiple different international grapes such as Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet. Gaja is a renowned and infamous name throughout Italy. Angelo Gaja is the biggest wine personality in the country and has had a huge impact on wine production in the last 30 years. With mostly Nebbiolo grapes being used, Angelo Gaja set the challenge of maintaining the basic power and depth of the Nebbiolo as it is the grape used to create the red wines.

Gaja Wines

The flagship for the Gaja family is Barbaresco wine, which is also known as one of the greatest Italian wines and has been produced since 1859. The wine itself has a nose dominated by fruit, with slight hints of citrus and floral elements. On the palate, it is juicy, with tastes of cherry and strawberry that create a blend of floral and vibrant fruit flavours. The wine is aged for multiple years in oak barrels before being released, creating a mature and balanced wine which has received incredibly high praise from connoisseurs alike.

Another highly popular and well-received wine is Sperss, a dry red that is also made with Nebbiolo grapes. The Barolo Sperss is a powerful, backward wine that features a strong oak imprint, with sage, tobacco, and spice meld into a core of dark fruit, creating an imposing taste; this wine is usually given a few years to soften before it is enjoyed.

Gaja Heritage

The roots of Gaja winery trace back to 1859 when Giovanni Gaja, a Spanish immigrant, established the winery. The wines quickly gained popularity, with Gaja wines even being supplied to the Italian Army in Abyssinia. The family's commitment to excellence led to significant vineyard acquisitions in 1937, expanding the business in terms of scale and quality. This legacy continued with the birth of Angelo Gaja in 1940, who would later revolutionise wine production.

Mentioning Gaja without talking about Angelo Gaja would not make sense due to his huge impact on wine production. Angelo Gaja took over the family business in 1970 and aimed to create wines with richer colour and better balance. Angelo Gaja replanted many vineyards and installed temperature control and stainless steel tanks to accomplish this aim. Gaja also introduced the concept of ageing wines in small oak barrels. Most controversially, he planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay on Barbaresco land.

Today, Gaja has 101 hectares of vineyards, which are divided into 32 separate plots, producing around 30,000 cases a year, producing world-class standard wines that sell at the highest prices.