Giovanni Rosso

History

Giovanni Rosso describes itself as a winery built upon four generations of winemaking tradition rooted in Serralunga d'Alba. While this continuity is common in the Langhe region, it is particularly significant given that the winery's holdings are located on vineyards that have been talked about for decades.

The major turning point was a geographical factor. At some point, the family began winemaking in Mount Etna, that is, Sicily, well beyond Piemonte, a location that is as different from Serralunga as Italy allows. Volcanic slopes, different grape varieties, and entirely different challenges.

As a result, the winery has received consistent recognition. The winery's Winemaker, Andrea Delpiano, was selected as Winemaker of the Year in the 2026 Guide de L'Espresso edition, and Barolo received the guide's highest honor in the same edition. Kerin O'Keefe published an article on the winery's achievements during the challenging 2022 Barolo vintage, which was marked by drought, heatwaves, and reduced yields across Piemonte. Wine Spectator named this winery one of the standout producers of the 2021 vintage, which the magazine described as one of the best of a generation.

The vineyards

The story of the vineyards begins at Serralunga d'Alba and continues largely there. This commune is well-known for producing Barolo, which is among the most structured and slowest to mature in the entire region. Giovanni Rosso utilizes several menzioni geografiche aggiuntive, additional geographical designations, within MGAs, specifically those officially designated as Barolo's.

Cerretta is one such vineyard, a well-known plot within Serralunga. Serra is another. And then there is Vigna Rionda, the vineyard that receives the most attention among the three and supplies the Ester Canale bottled wines.

However, not all wines are single-vineyard wines. The general-label wine Barolo is made from grapes harvested from three communes: Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto, and Barolo itself. Antonio Galloni pointed out that before single-vineyard labeling became popular, the classic method favored by veterans was precisely this, blending grapes from multiple villages in equal proportions. Maintaining this wine in their lineup can be seen as a kind of stubborn commitment.

In Sicily, the winery cultivates vineyards on Etna, including Contrada Pietra Marina; the soil here is volcanic, and each slope has its own distinct microclimate.

The grapes

The winery offers a relatively small selection of wines, which aligns well with its philosophy of preferring a small, carefully curated selection of wines.

• Nebbiolo is the grape variety used to produce all of the winery's Barolo wines. Barolo Serra is labeled as 100% Nebbiolo, and Nebbiolo is also used in the Langhe bottled wine produced at Vigna Rionda.
• Barbera: For Barbera d'Alba Donna Margherita
• Grapes used as raw materials for Nerello Mascalese and Etna Rosso in Etna
• White Etna variety: used for the Etna Bianco produced in Contrada Pietra Marina

Therefore, there are no specific varieties in Piemonte. Nebbiolo and Barbera are varieties cultivated in Serralunga d'Alba, and no other varieties were found there for Giovanni Rosso.

Delpiano's cellar

Andrea Delpiano produces wine, and the response to the Winemaker, from the 2026 vintage range of Guide de L'Espresso to Year, is the clearest external indicator of how this winery is perceived. The winery's stance is that a small number of well-made wines better showcase the potential of a specific vineyard than an extensive catalog.

Oak aging is a key element throughout the Barolos range, and Decanter's review notes that these wines were aged in oak. However, the critics' assessments are not about the oak. Decanter's evaluation of Barolo Cerretta was that this wine does not overstate itself but calmly reveals its characteristics through a silky-smooth texture and tannins that envelop the palate.

Bruce Sanderson, writing for Wine Spectator, described Barbera d'Alba as elegant and harmonious from start to finish. Falstaff detected juicy fruit and cherry aromas in the same wine. Although the critics differ, their overall assessment is consistent: they prioritize balance over intensity.

The wines

Giovanni Rosso's product line includes Barolo and a few other wines.

The Barolo DOCG is a blended wine that combines grapes from various communes, including Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto, and Barolo. It has a bright ruby color, with aromas of berries, pomegranate, and violets, along with notes of camphor, candied cherries, and licorice.

Barolo DOCG Cerretta is produced at Cerretta MGA, located in Serralunga. There is also Barolo Serra, which comes from the Serra vineyard.

Furthermore, the winery's top-tier wine, Vigna Rionda Ester Canale Barolo, is produced at the Vigna Rionda vineyard located in Serralunga d'Alba; it is full-bodied and suitable for long-term aging. The same vineyard also produces the Vigna Rionda Ester Canale Rosso (Langhe Nebbiolo), a wine that showcases the vineyard's characteristics in a more approachable style.

Beyond Barolo: In Piemonte the winery also makes Barbera d'Alba DOC Donna Margherita. In addition, the Etna range includes Etna Rosso, produced from Nerello Mascalese, and Etna Bianco Pietra Marina, released from Contrada Pietra Marina at the end of 2025.