Giovanni Canonica

Giovanni Canonica is perhaps Barolo's only true unicorn winemaker, producing a tiny number of characterful, ripe and structured wines from beneath his family B&B in Barolo village. After his first harvest in 1983, Giovanni sold wine in bulk for many years before estate bottling in the 90s and making bottles available commercially in 2000, after a Japanese importer convinced him to export—a significant portion of the annual production is still shipped to Japan. Today, Giovanni produces three wines, a Langhe Rosso and two Barolo, one from Paiagallo and another from old vines in Grinzane Cavour (inherited in 2010) with a high percentage of Nebbiolo Rosè, plus a sprinkle of Barbera reserved for friends and family. In the vineyard, there have never been any herbicides, pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. In the winery, grapes are destemmed, crushed by foot, fermented with native yeast and with temperature control, followed by long fermentation in wood, basket pressing, and ageing in wooden botti and cement vats. The finished wines are wonderful - aromatic, carnal and textural with melting tannins.