Ettore Germano is one of the cornerstones of Serralunga d'Alba, a family estate that carries a name with weight well beyond its own vineyards. Under Sergio Germano it has become both a reference for classic Barolo and a quietly adventurous producer of mountain whites and sparkling wine.
Backstory
The winery is named for Ettore, Sergio's father, who grew grapes, made a little wine for private customers and was known across the area for his skill grafting vines. Sergio completed six years at the School of Enology in Alba and worked at the larger Fontanafredda before returning to the family estate in 1993. Today the company is managed by Sergio and his wife Elena.
The Region
Ettore Germano sits a few minutes north of the village of Serralunga d'Alba, in the southeast corner of the Barolo appellation. Soils here are rich in limestone, clay and sand and tend to produce Nebbiolo with more structure than the western half of the Barolo zone.
Vineyards and Farming
Alongside roughly 10 hectares of vineyard in Serralunga, the Germano family farms about 10 hectares in the municipality of Ciglie in the higher, cooler Alta Langa. They follow an organic protocol with no herbicides, fertilize only with manure and microelements of biological origin, and sow green manure of legumes and crucifers in alternate rows to keep the soil soft and alive.
Winemaking
The split between warm Serralunga and high-altitude Alta Langa lets Sergio Germano make an unusually broad range, anchored by structured, age-worthy Barolo. The wines are built to reflect their commune and site.
The Wines
Beyond benchmark Barolo, including the Comune di Serralunga d'Alba bottling, the estate produces Dolcetto, Barbera, one of Italy's most admired Rieslings, and traditional-method sparkling wines from the Alta Langa. The cru Barolos Cerretta, Prapò and the Riserva Vignarionda sit at the top of the range.
