Barolo · Winery · Curated profile

Ettore Germano

Ettore Germano

Ettore Germano is a family run estate in Serralunga d'Alba, in the heart of Barolo. What began in 1975 as a grape growing farm became a bottling winery a decade later under Sergio, who put the family name on the label. Today Sergio and Elena work alongside the next generation, Elia and winemaker Maria, who runs the cellar. The estate farms two distinct territories: the steep, calcareous marl hills of Serralunga, around 350 metres, where five separate MGA crus, the communal Serralunga d'Alba, Cerretta, Prapò, Lazzarito and Vignarionda, give a powerful, long ageing style of Barolo, and the higher ground of Cigliè on the right bank of the Tanaro at 550 metres, planted since 1998 across about 12 hectares of Chardonnay, Riesling Renano, Pinot Nero, Nascetta and Nebbiolo, the source of the estate's still whites and its Alta Langa DOCG sparkling wines. Serralunga is one of the eleven Barolo communes, prized for firm, age worthy wines.

At a glance

Region
Barolo, Piemonte, Italy
Address
Località Cerretta 1, 12050 Serralunga d'Alba (CN)
Winemaker
Maria
Tours
Available
Tastings
Available
Wines listed
14
Website
https://www.ettoregermano.com

Visits & tastings

A visit here means walking among the tanks in the cellar and tasting the wines that best explain who Ettore Germano is, following one of three themed routes through the estate's reds, whites and Alta Langa bubbles. Book online in advance.

Tastings

  • Nebbiolo a 360° (Nebbiolo 360) · tasting of 6 wines tracing different expressions of Nebbiolo · 1 h 30 · €70 per person

Tours

  • La Classica (The Classic) · cellar visit and tasting of 5 wines incl. 2 Barolo · 1 h 30 · €35 per person
  • Un Salto in Alta Langa (A Leap into Alta Langa) · cellar visit and tasting of 3 whites and 2 Metodo Classico wines · 1 h 30 · €45 per person

Contact

Wines from Ettore Germano

  • Alta Langa Extra Brut: Alta Langa DOCG, Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, Sparkling. A Pinot Nero and Chardonnay blend fermented partly in French oak, disgorged with no dosage after 30 months on the lees, from 20-year-old vines in Cigliè.
  • Blanc de Blanc Pas Dosè: Alta Langa DOCG, Chardonnay, Sparkling. A Chardonnay sparkling wine aged at least 65 months on its lees and disgorged with no dosage, from 13-year-old vines on stony, sandy soil over marl in Cigliè.
  • Cerretta: Barolo DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Cerretta, which the estate calls the traditional soul of Serralunga's Barolo, grows on clay and heavily calcareous soil facing south to southeast, from 50-year-old vines, and ages 18 to 24 months in medium sized casks.
  • Chardonnay: Langhe DOC Chardonnay, Chardonnay, White. A steel fermented, unoaked Chardonnay from 20-year-old vines in Cigliè, aged about 6 months on lees before release in late spring.
  • Hérzu: Langhe DOC Riesling, Riesling Renano, White. Hérzu is Ettore Germano's Riesling Renano, off dry with about 5 to 6 grams of residual sugar, from 15-year-old vines on stony, calcareous soil in Cigliè.
  • Langhe Nascetta: Langhe DOC Nascetta, Nascetta, White. Langhe Nascetta ages 8 to 10 months in terracotta amphorae after a 10-day skin maceration, from 15-year-old vines on silty, calcareous and stony soil in Cigliè.
  • Langhe Nebbiolo: Langhe DOC Nebbiolo, Nebbiolo, Red. An easy drinking, fruit forward Nebbiolo from 15-year-old vines on clay and limestone, fermented briefly on the skins and aged about 6 months in steel.
  • Lazzarito Riserva: Barolo DOCG Riserva, Nebbiolo, Red. Lazzarito Riserva comes from the estate's oldest vines, around 90 years old, on limestone and marl soil with sand and iron, ageing 24 to 36 months in 2,000 litre oak barrels before further time in bottle.
  • Prapò: Barolo DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Prapò, the estate's own "Barolo that pampers the palate," comes from about 45-year-old vines on clay, limestone and sandy soil facing southeast, aged 18 to 24 months in large oak barrels and at least 12 more in bottle.
  • Riserva Blanc de Noir Pas Dosé: Alta Langa DOCG Riserva, Pinot Nero, Sparkling. A Blanc de Noir from Pinot Nero, aged at least 65 months on its lees and disgorged with no dosage, from 15-year-old vines in Cigliè.
  • Rosanna: Vino Spumante di Qualità, Sparkling. Rosanna is a rosé sparkling wine made by the classic method from a variety the estate describes only as historic and local, aged about 18 months on its lees.
  • Serralunga d'Alba: Barolo DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. This is the estate's commune level Barolo, from vines around 15 years old on clay and limestone soil facing southeast to southwest, aged 18 to 24 months in oak casks.
  • Vigna della Madre: Barbera d'Alba DOC Superiore, Barbera, Red. Vigna della Madre is the estate's Barbera d'Alba Superiore, from 20-year-old vines on clay and limestone facing east, aged about a year in medium sized wood casks and at least 6 months more before release.
  • Vignarionda: Barolo DOCG, Nebbiolo, Red. Vignarionda, the cru the estate calls "the Barolo that stands apart," comes from young, 10-year-old vines on very calcareous marl at 330 metres, ageing 18 to 24 months in barrel and over 20 more in bottle.