Gallina

Gallina sits in the commune of Neive within the Barbaresco DOCG, with vineyards positioned at 220-250 meters above sea level on south-southwest facing slopes. This orientation, combined with a warmer microclimate relative to other parts of Barbaresco, accelerates Nebbiolo ripening and contributes to the site's reputation for particularly potent, full-bodied wines. The soils are dominated by Sant'Agata marl, a calcareous clay marl with contributions of limestone, clay, and sand. This combination delivers the structural backbone and aromatic lift that define Gallina's distinctive character.

• Elevation: 220-250 meters above sea level
• Aspect: South-southwest facing, promoting full sun exposure
• Soils: Sant'Agata calcareous marl, limestone, clay, and sand
• Warmer microclimate compared to many Barbaresco sites

Gallina stands among the oldest recognized vineyard sites in the Barbaresco zone. Luigi Veronelli included it in his landmark 1969 ranking of the area's finest vineyard sites, a document that helped establish the modern vocabulary of Piedmontese cru thinking. Renato Ratti later included Gallina on his influential historical map of Barbaresco cru-vineyards. The name itself means 'hen' in Italian, a piece of local toponymic color common to Piedmontese geography. In 2007, the Barbaresco Consorzio granted Gallina official MGA status, formalizing its standing as a distinct and superior geographic site. Today it is considered one of the two Grand Crus of Neive.

• Named in Luigi Veronelli's 1969 ranking of top Barbaresco vineyards
• Featured on Renato Ratti's historic Barbaresco cru map
• Officially designated as an MGA by the Barbaresco Consorzio in 2007
• Considered one of the two Grand Crus of Neive alongside Serraboella

Nebbiolo from Gallina produces wines that are aromatic, complex, and notably powerful. The warmer microclimate and south-southwest aspect yield grapes with generous ripeness, translating into full-bodied Barbaresco with firm but integrated tannins. Typical aromatic descriptors include cherry, violet, rose, tobacco, liquorice, and fennel, reflecting both the grape variety and the terroir's calcareous marl influence. Wines from Gallina tend toward the bolder, more structured end of the Barbaresco spectrum, rewarding cellaring while remaining accessible with appropriate aging.

• Full-bodied, tannic structure typical of Nebbiolo from warm-aspect sites
• Aromatics: cherry, violet, rose, tobacco, liquorice, fennel
• Warmer microclimate contributes to richer, more potent expression
• Suited to medium to long-term cellaring

Gallina attracts some of Barbaresco's most respected names. Bruno Giacosa, widely regarded as one of Piedmont's greatest winemakers of the modern era, produced legendary single-vineyard Barbaresco from this site. La Spinetta, Castello di Neive, Piero Busso, Francone, Ugo Lequio, and Oddero also hold holdings here, each bringing their own stylistic approach to the vineyard's inherently powerful raw material. The depth of producer talent working Gallina underscores its status as one of the DOCG's elite sites.

• Bruno Giacosa: produced benchmark single-vineyard Barbaresco from Gallina
• La Spinetta and Castello di Neive: prominent estates with Gallina holdings
• Piero Busso, Francone, Ugo Lequio, and Oddero also notable producers here