The Gaja family settled in Piedmont in the mid-seventeenth century. Five generations of Gaja’s have been producing wines in the Langhe hills since 1989, the year Giovanni Gaja, a local grape grower, founded the Gaja winery in Barbaresco.

Following years of dedication to uncompromising quality, the wines achieved a leadership position in Italy and the family was able to purchase vineyard holdings acquiring Sorì Tildìn, Costa Russi, Sorì San Lorenzo and Darmagi.

Angelo Gaja took over the family business in 1961 and combined his respect for the traditions of the Langhe with bold innovations in the vineyards and cellars which changed the way that wines were produced all over Italy.

Angelo lives in Barbaresco with his wife Lucia and their three children, Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni who represent the fifth generation of the family and are all involved in the business.

Today the winery owns 96 ha of vineyards in Barbaresco and Barolo. In 1994, the Gajas acquired their first estate in Tuscany, Pieve Santa Restituta in Montalcino. In 1996 the family purchased their second Tuscan property, Ca’ Marcanda in Bogheri.

Barbaresco DOCG is located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, encompassing the communes of Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso, and part of Alba. The appellation was granted DOCG status in 1980, making it one of Italy's most prestigious wine designations. The vineyards sit on steep hillsides at elevations between 150-400 meters, benefiting from favorable southern and southwestern exposures in the Langhe hills.

The region's continental climate features hot summers and cold winters, with significant diurnal temperature variations that help preserve acidity in the grapes. The soils consist primarily of calcareous clay and sandstone formations from the Miocene era, known locally as "terre bianche." Nebbiolo is the sole permitted grape variety for Barbaresco DOCG, and wines must be aged for a minimum of 26 months, with at least 9 months in wood. Riserva wines require 50 months of aging, including 9 months in wood.

Barbaresco wines are characterized by their elegant, refined style compared to their more powerful neighbor Barolo. The wines typically display intense aromatics of roses, tar, and red fruits, with firm tannins that soften with age. The terroir imparts distinctive mineral notes and bright acidity, creating wines with excellent aging potential that can evolve for decades. While sharing Nebbiolo's inherent structure and complexity, Barbaresco tends to be more approachable in youth while maintaining the grape's signature combination of power and finesse.