Roagna: Tradition, Terroir and Timeless Barolo and Barbaresco
Roagna is one of the most revered and traditional producers in Piemonte, known for crafting age-worthy, soulful wines from Barolo and Barbaresco. With roots that stretch back to the 19th century and a commitment to minimal intervention, old vines and long macerations, Roagna occupies a unique space in the pantheon of great Italian wine estates. For collectors and connoisseurs alike, Roagna represents the pinnacle of traditional Nebbiolo.
In this article, we dive deep into the history, philosophy and vineyard holdings of Roagna, and provide an overview of their cuvées, from the rare monopole Pira to the legendary Crichet Pajé.
A Brief History of Roagna
The Roagna family has been producing wine in Barbaresco since the mid-1800s, with written records dating back to 1840. However, the estate as we know it today began to take shape in the early 20th century, when Giovanni Roagna, father of Alfredo, began bottling his own wines under the family name.
The modern chapter begins with Alfredo Roagna, who took the reins in the 1970s and passed his passion and knowledge to his son Luca Roagna, the current winemaker and face of the estate. Since joining the family business in 2001, Luca has doubled down on the traditional practices that define Roagna, while refining vineyard work and elevating quality to even greater heights.
The estate is based in Barbaresco, but it also owns significant holdings in Castiglione Falletto in Barolo, notably the monopole Pira cru.
Winemaking Philosophy
At Roagna, tradition isn’t a marketing slogan. It is a lived philosophy. Luca Roagna has consistently emphasized a few key principles:
Biodiversity and natural farming
No herbicides or synthetic chemicals are used. Roagna practices organic viticulture, though they do not seek certification.
Old vines only
Many of Roagna’s vines are between 50 and 100 years old. They do not produce wine from vines under 25 years of age.
Extremely long macerations
Fermentations take place with native yeasts and often involve skin contact of 60 to 100 days, which is among the longest in the region.
Extended aging in large botti
Wines are aged in neutral oak for 4 to 5 years, sometimes longer, ensuring slow evolution without the imprint of wood.
The result is a style that is resolutely classical. Aromatic, structured, transparent and built to age for decades.
Roagna’s Barbaresco Wines
Barbaresco Pajé
This is Roagna’s flagship Barbaresco and comes from their historic home vineyard in the village itself. Pajé is a small cru with limestone-rich soils and a cool microclimate that gives the wine elegance and minerality.
The wine shows classic notes of rose petal, sour cherry, dried herbs and iron. It has great tension and precision. A benchmark Barbaresco.
Barbaresco Montefico
Montefico is a structured and more powerful expression than Pajé, located just east of it. Roagna works a small parcel within this cru, planted with old vines.
Montefico tends to have darker fruit, more pronounced tannins and a spicy backbone. It is built for long aging.
Barbaresco Asili (Vigna)
Asili is one of the most famous crus in Barbaresco, known for its finesse and aromatic complexity. Roagna’s parcel is in the heart of the vineyard and yields a wine of haunting beauty.
Expect floral lift, silky tannins and incredible nuance. It is produced only in the best vintages and in tiny quantities.
Barbaresco Crichet Pajé
This is Roagna’s rarest and most sought-after wine. It comes from a tiny parcel at the top of the Pajé vineyard with a unique microclimate and very old vines.
Crichet Pajé is released only after a decade or more of aging in bottle. It combines incredible depth, longevity and detail. Often compared to the greatest wines of Burgundy or Piedmont.
Production is extremely limited, with only a few hundred bottles made in top vintages. It is one of the most collectible wines in Italy.
Roagna’s Barolo Wines
Barolo Pira
Roagna owns the entire Pira cru in Castiglione Falletto, making it a monopole. The vineyard was acquired in the late 1980s and contains old vines planted on steep, calcareous slopes.
Barolo Pira offers a more muscular and robust profile than the Barbaresco wines, with darker fruit, tobacco and iron tones. It is aged for up to 5 years in large botti before release.
The estate also produces single-parcel bottlings from within Pira:
Barolo Pira Vecchie Viti
This is a selection from the oldest vines within the Pira monopole, many of which are over 80 years old and planted on their own rootstock. These deep-rooted vines produce very small yields of intensely concentrated fruit, resulting in a wine with remarkable depth, structure and aromatic complexity.
Vecchie Viti is not made every year but only when the conditions and fruit quality justify it. It combines the power of Castiglione Falletto with a haunting finesse and purity that make it one of Roagna’s most profound expressions. It is a true collector’s item and capable of aging for several decades.
Barolo Pira Rionda
This ultra-rare bottling comes from a specific parcel within the Pira vineyard, known internally as "Rionda", named after an old path or curve in the terrain. It has a subtly different exposition and microclimate which gives the wine a unique personality even within the Pira cru.
Rionda is made only in exceptional vintages and in extremely limited quantities. It is perhaps the most elusive wine in Roagna’s Barolo lineup and is a wine of tension, mineral energy and slow-burning intensity. If you see it, do not hesitate.
Other Wines from Roagna
Langhe Rosso
Roagna’s Langhe Rosso is made from younger vines in Pajé and Pira, typically 25 to 40 years old. Despite the modest appellation, this wine overdelivers in complexity and character, offering a glimpse into the house style at a more accessible price.
It’s often called one of the best value wines in all of Piedmont.
Langhe Nebbiolo
This cuvée is made with the same care as the Barbaresco wines, but from parcels that don’t qualify for the DOCG. It sees long maceration and aging, and is a brilliant introduction to traditional Nebbiolo.
Langhe Bianco Solea
Roagna also produces a white wine called Solea, a blend of Chardonnay and Nebbiolo vinified white. It is aromatic, mineral-driven and capable of aging. Solea is fermented and aged in wood for several years before release, which is very unusual for Italian white wine.
The Roagna Style
Across all of Roagna’s wines, the house style is unmistakable:
Aromatic intensity and purity
Fine but firm tannins
Transparent expressions of terroir
Incredible aging potential
These are wines for purists. Uncompromising in their traditionalism and deeply expressive of place. They require time, both in the cellar and in the glass, but reward patience like few others.
Final Thoughts
Roagna is one of the great traditional producers not just of Piemonte but of the entire wine world. Their unwavering commitment to old vines, natural farming and long élevage produces wines that are both intellectual and emotional.
Whether you’re exploring the elegance of Pajé, the structure of Pira or the ethereal depth of Crichet Pajé, Roagna offers a rare glimpse into the soul of Nebbiolo. These are wines that speak quietly but with profound authority. Built not for trends but for eternity.
If you're looking to explore the finest traditional Barolo and Barbaresco, Roagna should be at the top of your list. Discover our current selection of Roagna wines.