Angelo Gaja

Angelo Gaja, born in 1940 in Alba, Italy, joined the family winery Gaja in Barbaresco, Piedmont, in 1961 and took over leadership from his father at the end of the 1960s, revolutionizing the estate by introducing single-vineyard Barbaresco wines starting with Sorí San Lorenzo in 1967, barrique aging, reduced yields, and international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. He pioneered innovations such as temperature-controlled fermentation and single-vineyard expressions like Sorí Tildin (1970) and Costa Russi (1978), elevating Barbaresco to international acclaim. Gaja expanded the family portfolio with wineries Pieve Santa Restituta in Montalcino (1994) and Ca’ Marcanda in Bolgheri (1996), while declassifying Barbaresco and Barolo with 5% Barbera in 1996.