Giovanni Canonica Barolo ‘Paiagallo’ 2021

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Giovanni Canonica

Giovanni Canonica is a hidden legend in the town of Barolo. He and his family run a small agriturismo where, in the cellars below, he makes his wines. He has only 1.5 hectares of vines in the Paiagallo vineyard directly on the hill above Barolo. There are relatively few other producers of a single vineyard Paiagallo wine with Fontafredda, Prandi, and, Broccardo on the list.

Gianni proves, in the right hands, that doing so merits consideration. His holdings are also separated from the conventional vineyard work of the other producers in a way that keeps as much integrity to Canonica’s vines as possible. The vineyard is planted in Nebbiolo in the best spots and Barbera in the less interesting plots. Everything is traditional in the vineyard and cellar: no herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers, only sulfur and copper treatments, de-stemming, maceration for 30-40 days using only indigenous yeasts, vertical hand press, then into cement and slavonian oak for aging. A small number of bottles are made, mostly sold at the cellar.

Where in the World is Giovanni Canonica?

The Paiagallo vineyard is in the Commune of Barolo, just to the north-west of the township of Barolo and the bottom end of the Cannubi vineyard. Ginzane Carvour is the north-east corner of the Barolo region.