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The Roagna estate boasts a rich heritage in the commune of Barbaresco, with its origins tracing back to the early twentieth century when Vincenzo Roagna first established the property. Over the years, stewardship of the estate has remained firmly within the family. Vincenzo handed the reins to his son, Giovanni Roagna, who later saw his own son, Alfredo, become the head of the estate. This seamless succession underscores the family's commitment to maintaining tradition and quality through the generations.

Currently, the estate is managed by Luca Roagna, representing the fifth generation of the family. Born in 1980, Luca assumed responsibility for winemaking soon after graduating from oenological school in 2001. His leadership continues the legacy of his forebears, ensuring that the estate’s philosophy and style remain intact.

Throughout its history, the Roagna estate has consistently produced wines in a traditional and classic style. This approach has been carefully preserved and handed down from one generation to the next. The resulting wines are notable for their depth, complexity, and structure, qualities that make them ideal for ageing and reward those who choose to cellar them.

The Roagna estate is centred around six and a half hectares of vineyards located in the commune of Barbaresco. The majority of these vineyards are situated within the renowned Pajè cru, which is highly regarded for its exceptional quality.

Pajè Vineyard Cuvées

From the Pajè vineyard, the Roagna family produces three distinct cuvées:

• Barbaresco “Pajè”: The estate's Barbaresco “normale”, labelled as Barbaresco “Pajè”.
• Barbaresco Pajè Vecchie Vite: Crafted from older vines within the Pajè cru.
• Crichët Pajè: Made from grapes sourced from the crest of the Pajè cru.

In 1989, the Roagna family's ambitions to acquire top-level crus in Barolo were realised with the purchase of a parcel historically known as La Rocche e La Pira, located in the esteemed village of Castiglione Falletto.

Until the 2004 vintage, wines from this Barolo vineyard were labelled as either Barolo “La Rocca e La Pira” or Barolo Riserva “La Rocca e La Pira”. For the 2005, 2007, and 2008 vintages, the labelling changed to “La Pira” or “La Pira Vecchie Vite”, although the fruit continued to be sourced from the same vineyard.

With the release of the 2009 wines, the official naming conventions were updated to align with the new disciplinary for the Barolo appellation. The wines are now labelled simply as “Pira”, reflecting the vineyard’s new official name.

Barolo Pira Vecchie Vite: Occasionally, a selection is made from the oldest vines in the Pira cru.

Riserva Selection: On occasion, a Riserva selection is released, consisting of barrels of Vecchie Vite that have undergone extended ageing in the cellar.

The Roagna cellars have maintained their historic vinification practices, even with Luca Roagna assuming leadership of the estate. Fermentation continues to feature a full sixty-day maceration period, which is followed by ageing in large Slavonian oak botti. This maturation process lasts anywhere from three to five years, depending on the quality of the vintage, before the wines are bottled.

Roagna wines are bottled without fining or filtration, ensuring their purity and integrity. Furthermore, the estate often opts to retain the wines for several additional years of bottle ageing before releasing them to the market, enhancing their complexity and character.

In addition to their esteemed Barbaresco and Barolo bottlings, Roagna produces several other wines. These include a Nebbiolo Langhe Rosso cuvée, crafted from younger vines located within their Barbaresco and Barolo holdings. The estate also offers a Dolcetto, noted for its chewy texture and intense flavours.

Roagna creates a unique white wine known as Langhe Bianco Solea, which is a blend composed of 95% Chardonnay and 5% Nebbiolo. The Nebbiolo component is vinified without the skins. This wine is held by the winery for three years prior to release, resulting in a medium-full style that is fresh and pure. Typically, the Langhe Bianco Solea presents an aromatic profile featuring notes of pear, flowers, a hint of honey, and pastry cream.

The Roagna domaine has built its reputation around the production of outstanding Barbaresco and Barolo wines. These two styles are the heart and soul of the estate, representing the pinnacle of its winemaking philosophy and tradition.

Roagna’s Barbarescos are renowned for their remarkable depth and purity. These wines are distinctly soil-driven, offering a profound expression of terroir. The bouquet reveals fine layers of black fruit, complemented by subtle notes of liquorice and fresh herbs. A measured undercurrent of tar adds further complexity to the aromatic profile.

On the palate, both Barbaresco bottlings are full-bodied and display a robust structure. The tannins are firm yet well-integrated, indicating that these wines require time in the cellar to reach their full potential. Their track record for longevity is superb, rewarding patience with ever-increasing refinement over the years.

Roagna’s Barolos offer a slightly more robust character compared to the Barbarescos. They showcase a harmonious blend of red fruit accents alongside a core of black cherry, with additional layers of anise, autumnal soil tones, tar, and woodsmoke. These attributes combine to create a wine of considerable depth and complexity.

On the palate, Barolo wines from Roagna are also full-bodied and powerful. Their balanced structure ensures they have the capability to evolve gracefully in the cellar for thirty years or more, making them a wise choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

As with many traditional producers of Barolo and Barbaresco, Roagna’s wines benefit immensely from extended decanting prior to consumption. This holds true even for bottles that have already spent significant time ageing in the cellar, allowing the wines to display their full aromatic and textural potential.

The Roagna estate boasts a long and successful history, continually striving for excellence. Under the meticulous stewardship of Luca Roagna, the domaine appears poised to achieve even greater heights. It is anticipated that the recognition and fame of the winery will soon match the outstanding quality of its wines, cementing its status among the elite producers of the region.