La Ganghija

Overview

Estate

La Ganghija is situated in the municipality of Treiso, within the Barbaresco DOCG production zone on the well-known Langhe hills in southern Piedmont.

Climate

Springs are rainy and windy; summers are hot, with temperatures often exceeding 86°F, breezy, and prone to thunderstorms. Autumns are mild, rainy, and foggy. Winters are cold with up to 1 meter of snow and freezing temperatures. Summer winds from the Ligurian Sea cool the area. Recently, rainfall and snowfall have decreased, but autumn rainfall has become more intense.

Soil

The geological era begins in the Serravallian Miocene, approximately 13–11 million years ago, based on marine deposits in shallow coastal areas that later emerged and eroded. It features alternating layers of sand, clay, and marly limestone, often distinct from one another. The structure is compact yet friable, easily disintegrates, and has good permeability. The soil has low organic content and a slightly alkaline pH.

Vineyards

The vineyards cover approximately 18.5 acres, with 16 acres located in the Langhe, mainly in the municipality of Treiso, and the remaining area in Magliano Alfieri, in the Roero region. The varieties grown are mostly native, including Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo, with some Chardonnay also included. The average age of the vineyards is over 40 years.

Cultivation

The vineyards are cultivated with the utmost respect for nature, without the use of herbicides or chemical fertilizers. Since the land is very steep, most of the work is done by hand, and the soil is left covered with grass to prevent erosion during heavy rainfall.

Winery

The winery, established in 2004 in the heart of the small village of Treiso, is small but well-organized. It is divided into functional areas: one for the fermentation and storage of wines without aging in wood, utilizing stainless steel tanks; and a basement for aging in oak barrels and storing unlabeled bottles. There are also two additional spaces dedicated to bottling, packaging, and storing labeled bottles.

Family

After three generations of exclusively producing grapes for private wineries and cooperatives, in 2004, young winemaker Enzo Rapalino, at the age of 23, began a new chapter by becoming part-owner of his family’s historic vineyards and starting to make wine from them, thus creating La Ganghija. Over the years, the family has expanded, and today his wife, Milena, and young son, Edoardo (who is still a student of oenology) are also part of this family venture.

Winemaker

Enzo Rapalino, born in 1981, graduated as an agricultural expert specializing in viticulture and enology from the Umberto I School of Enology in Alba. He is also the owner and founder.

Focus Point

• Family-owned business. • Artisanal wines. • Respect for the land and environment. • Single-varietal wines (no blends). • Highlighting the unique qualities of each grape variety. • Combining tradition with modern technology.