Barolo & Barbaresco Wine Tour with a Sommelier
We will start our day in the historical center of Neive, a small medieval hilltop town. One of the towns of the Barbaresco wine area and one of Italy’s top 5 most beau...
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2021: best 2031 to 2061.
vintage10 yrs40 yrs42 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wine Advocate reviewed 2025 | 2021 | 98/100 |
| Wine Spectator reviewed 2025 | 2021 | 97/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: sour black cherry, truffle, rhubarb, licorice, mineral
Palate: black cherry, salt, stone
Gaja's Serralunga Barolo from the Marenca-Rivette parcels: deep, mineral and austere with sour black cherry, truffle and a decidedly salty, stony finish.
What it pairs with
- Bollito misto The Piedmontese mixed boiled meats meet the wine's structure and salty finish.More wines for beef and red meat →
- Braised short rib Rich collagen melts against the firm Serralunga tannin.More wines for beef and red meat →
- Aged Bra cheese Hard alpine cheese mirrors the wine's mineral spine.More wines for cheese →
With cheese
Castelmagno
Our pick Qualigeo pairs Castelmagno with full-bodied reds. The crumbly, piquant paste of an aged wheel, with its blue-green veins, meets Barolo's firm tannin and high acidity, which clear the palate between pieces.
Ossolano
Local tradition Qualigeo lists Barolo first among the structured reds it calls the classic match for Ossolano. The elastic, savoury paste with its herbal pasture notes gives Nebbiolo's tannin something to grip, and an older, more intense wheel holds its own.
Gorgonzola
Our pick Qualigeo says Gorgonzola Piccante prefers well-structured, aged reds. A very piquant, longer-aged Piccante can overwhelm a delicate wine, so it wants a Barolo with enough tannin and age to stand up to it.
How to serve Gaja Sperss
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Bollito misto, Braised short rib, Aged Bra cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Sperss, dialect for nostalgia, marked Gaja's return to Barolo in 1988 with the purchase of the Marenca-Rivette vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba, land the family had not held for decades.
- 1988First Sperss vintage from Serralunga d'Alba
- 2013Returned to Barolo DOCG label
Facts
- Producer
- Gaja · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Nebbiolo (100%)
- Classification
- Barolo DOCG
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 350 to 700 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 40 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1988
Frequently asked about Gaja Sperss
What does Gaja Sperss taste like?
On the nose, sour black cherry, truffle, rhubarb, licorice, mineral. On the palate, black cherry, salt, stone. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Gaja's Serralunga Barolo from the Marenca-Rivette parcels: deep, mineral and austere with sour black cherry, truffle and a decidedly salty, stony finish.
When should I drink Gaja Sperss?
Drink 10 to 40 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Gaja Sperss?
Bollito misto is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Braised short rib and Aged Bra cheese. The Piedmontese mixed boiled meats meet the wine's structure and salty finish.
What grapes are in Gaja Sperss?
The blend is Nebbiolo (100%). The wine is classified as Barolo DOCG.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tastings near Gaja
Piedmont Winery Tour: Taste Barolo, Barbaresco & Traditional Food
Visit a famous family-run winery in Langhe, Piedmont wine Region. Meet the winemakers, learn about wine production before enjoying toasting with local wines, paired wi...
Alba: Wine Tasting and Tour with a Local Producer
Take a guided tour of a wine cellar in Alba and learn about the wine-making process. Enjoy a guided tasting of local wines paired with cured meats and cheeses.
Barbaresco wine tours (23) · Barolo wine tours (39) · Wine tastings and winery visits in Piedmont (42) · Wine tours and day trips in Piedmont (41) · Wine and cheese tastings in Piedmont (4)