Italy: Albino Rocca

Albino Rocca is a small family winery in the Piedmont region of Italy. The winery can trace its history back through four generations of the Rocca family, when Albino’s father Giacomo began selling grapes from the family vineyards in the 1940s, and later making his own wine.

In the 1960s, Albino Rocca inherited some of the family’s most prized vineyards, and founded the current winery. The hard work of Albino and his late son, Angelo, created the world-class winery that exists today. The winery combines traditional and modern winemaking techniques to create Barbaresco from the Nebbiolo grape, as well as other wines.

Albino Rocca is the name of the grandfather of the current owners of the winery. He founded the winery after inheriting vineyards in the 1960s.

Monica Rocca points out the family's vineyards adjacent to the winery.

Albino Rocca is a bright, welcoming space.

The tasting room is an eclectic blend of traditional and modern, just like the winery's approach to wine-making.

An experimental Barbaresco is being produced in the memory of Angelo Rocca, who was Albino Rocca's son. Only the finest grapes were chosen for this experiment.

Carlo Castellengo, the current winemaker, hard at work.

The winery uses roto-fermenters to aid masceration, which was considered outlandish at first, but has now been adopted by many other wineries.

Monica, Jeremy, and Carlo.

A special barrel is used for the vinification of the special 2013 Barbaresco.

The bottling and corking equipment is all made in the Piedmont.

Technology is secondary to Albino Rocca's respect for the terroir.

Every Albino Rocca Cru has its own unique identity that is an expression of grapevine, environment and tradition.

The winery is a true family business. Monica's sister Daniela, who also works at the winery, joined us at our tasting.

Jeremy takes notes during the tasting.

Apart from its well-reputed Barbaresco, Albino Rocca also makes Barbera, Dolcetto, Cortese, Chardonnay and Moscato.

The memory of Angelo Rocca, who died in the mysterious plane crash in 2012, is felt throughout the winery.