Az. Agr. Paolo Giordano

A former IT programmer, Paolo Giordano, swapped the keyboard for the tractor in 2008, & began learning from his suocero/father-in-law, Gianni Palladino. Indeed it’s Paolo’s wife, Ileana, along with her sister Nadia, who are the future joint proprietarie of this 10ha estate in the Monforte comune of Perno; of which, 4.7ha is devoted to vineyards (32% Nebbiolo da Barolo), the rest being bosco & noccioletti. Both Ileana & her sister Nadia work at Banca d’Alba.

Ileana’s mother, Carla, is a Seghesio – a prominent Monforte d’Alba family – whose parents, in 1939, arrived in Perno from the village of Cissone up in the Alta Langa. Carla & Gianni replanted the vineyards in 1984 – to allow space for the caterpillar tractor! – renting them out until Paolo officially adopted the trowel in 2015; an event that made Carla felicissima!

Ileana & Paolo are now constructing a cantina under their casa in the comune of Perno, due for completion in time for the 2022 harvest. Up until now, the wines are made at a friend’s cantina in Monforte. They have begun cautiously, & are now making circa 4k bts/anno of Langhe Nebbiolo & 4k bts of Barolo Perno.

They have two Nebbiolo vineyards in the MGA of Perno: one below the village at c.340m asl, in front of the Rocche di Castiglione cliff-face, WNW aspect on pure limestone & clay that’s cooled by the deep valley breezes – perfect for making their Langhe Nebbiolo; while the second vineyard is SW facing, at c.380m asl, which overlooks the capella/chapel of Santo Stefano di Perno, also on predominantly calcareous soil, but mixed with arenaria di Diano sand, that has an lapillo/volcanic ash texture, & which was planted in 1984; the fruit from this vineyard is used for making their Barolo Perno, Monforte d’Alba.

Vinification of the Nebbiolo da Barolo is classic, with spontaneous ferments & MLF in stainless-steel, extended skin contact (30-60 days) with pumping over, punching down & some delestaggio/rack ‘n return, followed by 24 mths in 10 & 35Hl Garbellotto botti, a further spell in steel & then bottling a year before release.

Their inaugural Barolo vintage was 2018, all 1,260 bts, aged in 750L tonneaux & barriques!