Gemma

Description

In the heart of the Langhe, in Serralunga d’Alba, a winery destined to become one of the most authentic and iconic symbols of Barolo production was founded in 1978: Gemma. It was established by Silvano Piacentini, a Verona entrepreneur with a deep passion for wine and a genuine desire to join the great Piedmontese winemaking tradition. The beginning is symbolic: the activity started in an ancient building belonging to the Opera Pia Barolo dei Marchesi Falletti, located in the historic center of Serralunga, in a setting rich in history and enological culture. Today, the winery is led by Luigi Piacentini, the founder’s son, who perfectly embodies the balance between heritage and innovation. A qualified sommelier, Luigi is actively involved in every stage of production, working closely with the winery’s oenologist to ensure the excellence of each bottle. His approach combines contemporary sensibility with respect for tradition, commercial vision, and love for the land. Gemma’s identity is founded on a clear philosophy: respecting the grape variety and the territory that produces it, enhancing the vine as an expression of the landscape. Every production choice is driven by the desire to protect the natural balance of the environment, highlighting the purest and most authentic characteristics of the Langhe terroir. The estate’s vineyards extend across some of the most prestigious areas of the Langhe, including Alba and especially Monforte d’Alba, a symbolic and strategic location that has always played a central role in Gemma’s production. Its sunny slopes, calcareous-clay soils, and dry but temperate microclimate provide ideal conditions for growing Nebbiolo, the flagship grape of Piedmont. From these vineyards comes one of the winery’s most iconic wines: the Barolo Riserva “Giblin”, an exceptional cuvée that expresses the deepest soul of the territory. Winefication follows tradition: strict grape selection, slow fermentations, and long aging. The result is a Barolo of extraordinary structure, elegance, and longevity, capable of evolving over time while maintaining its identity. The name “Giblin” has roots in ancient Piedmontese language. Originally, it referred to a hat, but in the local dialect it also indicated the top of the hill, the highest point where four ridges converge. It is precisely there, at the most panoramic and suitable site in Monforte, that the vineyards producing this wine are located. A simple term, yet full of meaning, chosen to represent what Gemma considers the qualitative and symbolic pinnacle of its production: a wine that, like a precious hat, protects and defines the winery’s style. With a vision deeply rooted in the territory, a family approach, and quality renewed vintage after vintage, Gemma continues to write its chapter in the great history of Barolo.