Filippo Gallino (Roero, Piedmont, Italy)

Nestled among the rolling hills of Canale, in the heart of the prestigious Roero DOCG appellation opposite Barbaresco and Barolo, Azienda Agricola Filippo Gallino is one of the historic family wineries that has helped shape the reputation of the Roero wine region. For more than a century, four generations of the Gallino family have cultivated these vineyards, combining traditional Piedmontese viticulture with a constant drive for innovation while remaining deeply rooted in their territory. Today, the estate is run by Filippo and Maria Gallino, together with their children Gianni and Laura, who continue the family's philosophy of producing elegant, authentic wines that faithfully express the unique character of Roero.

The family's winemaking history stretches back to the late nineteenth century, when Stefano Gallino was already producing Barbera and Nebbiolo. The estate was subsequently developed by Felice ("Licin") Gallino and later by Filippo Gallino, who transformed the family farm into one of Roero's most respected wineries. Throughout its history, the Gallino family has remained dedicated to showcasing the quality of the Roero region and promoting its distinctive wines both in Italy and internationally.

Filippo Gallino is widely recognised as one of the pioneers responsible for the revival of Roero Arneis. At a time when this indigenous white variety had almost disappeared, the winery took the bold decision to bottle Roero Arneis under its own label in 1972, helping to rescue the grape from near extinction and contributing significantly to its international recognition. Today, Roero Arneis is considered one of Italy's finest white wines, prized for its vibrant freshness, delicate floral aromas, citrus and stone fruit character, elegant minerality and remarkable food friendliness. The Gallino family continues to produce both the classic Roero Arneis DOCG and the prestigious Roero Arneis Riserva "4 Luglio", aged on its fine lees to provide additional complexity and longevity.

The estate cultivates its vineyards on the characteristic light sandy-clay soils of Roero, which produce wines noted for their finesse, aromatic purity and elegance. Vineyard work remains highly traditional, with careful pruning, manual harvesting and strict yield control ensuring optimum fruit quality. During the early 1990s, Filippo Gallino, encouraged by his close friend and renowned Roero winemaker Matteo Correggia, introduced meticulous green harvesting, lower yields and refined maturation techniques, elevating the estate's wines to an even higher level of quality. The resulting improvements were soon recognised by Italy's leading wine critics and guides, firmly establishing Gallino among Roero's benchmark producers.

While Arneis remains the estate's signature white wine, the Gallino portfolio also includes outstanding expressions of Roero DOCG, Langhe Nebbiolo, Barbera d'Alba, Barbera d'Alba Superiore, Brachetto, Birbet and elegant rosé wines. Across the range, the wines combine traditional vineyard practices with modern cellar techniques to produce remarkably balanced, expressive and food-friendly wines that reflect the character of their origin.

Today, Gianni Gallino oversees winemaking and vineyard operations, while Laura Gallino manages administration and international marketing, ensuring that the family's heritage continues into the fourth generation. Their dedication has been rewarded with numerous prestigious accolades over the years, including repeated recognition from Gambero Rosso, as well as excellent reviews from leading Italian wine publications and critics, particularly for their Roero Arneis, Barbera d'Alba and Roero DOCG wines.

For Wine Provision Shop, Filippo Gallino represents another cherished long-term friendship. Dr. Hannes Hentze first visited the Gallino family first in 2016 to try all of their wines at the winery. Our longstanding relationship has provided unique insight into one of Roero's most authentic family wineries and reflects a shared passion for craftsmanship, terroir and the timeless elegance of Piedmontese wines.

Forbes article on the Roero region: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tmullen/2021/02/28/racy-and-elegant-italian-wines-from-roero/?sh=24a786701dfe