Welcome to Episode 2251 in which Jessica Dupuy interviews Sergio Germano, the president of Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani..

Italian Wine Podcast is a proud media partner of Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening and is pleased to present this series of interviews recorded for this year’s event.

The fourth edition of the Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening (BBWO) takes place in Austin, Texas on 25 March 2025. This year, the spotlight shines on three southwestern states, with educational events and dedicated tastings taking place in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio in Texas as well as Phoenix, Arizona; and Denver, Colorado throughout February 2025.

Join us as Texas-based wine journalist Jessica Dupuy interviews top writers, journalists, sommeliers, and wine professionals at this renowned event. In this special series, Jessica will delve into the experiences and insights of key attendees, exploring career paths, challenges, and the latest trends in the wine industry.

More about today’s guest:

Sergio was born in 1965, and as a child helped his parents in the vineyards after school. After finishing his enology studies in Alba, he worked for three important wineries in the area, all the while continuing to help out his father and contributing to the conversion of the family farm to a full-fledged winery.

In 1988 the first 5,000 bottles of Barolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera were placed on the market together with a small production of Chardonnay. However, the turning point came in 1993 when all the family’s grapes produced were vinified and bottled. In 1995 Sergio bought about two hectares of Cerretta and started the challenge of producing white wines in Alta Langa, planting the first vineyards of Chardonnay, Reisling in Cigliè. In 1997 he married Elena Bonnelli who has given great support to the winery, helping Sergio with business administration as well as hospitality. The family then grew with the joy of the birth of two children: Elia born in 1998 and Maria born in 2001.

After a few years, Sergio purchased another hectare in the vineyards of Prapò (2002), Lazzarito (2002), and Pradone (a parcel of Lazzarito) and also another parcel in Cerretta(2001). In 2010 Sergio’s mother inherited from her cousin Tommaso Canale half of a hectare in the most historic and famous vineyard of Serralunga d’Alba: Vigna Rionda.

Sergio’s goal is to express the territory and the character of the various vines, trying to express elegance and finesse in the wines, which as a Piedmontese tradition, are generally combined with gastronomy.

Connect:

Website: https://www.ettoregermano.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ettoregermano/

More about today’s host:

Jessica Dupuy covers wine, spirits, and travel from Austin, Texas. She holds a Diploma with the Wine & Spirit Educatiol Trust, is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and a Certified Specialist of Wine and Spirits through the Society of Wine Educators. Dupuy’s work has appeared in Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Imbibe, Texas Monthly, Forbes, SevenFifty Daily, GuildSomm, VinePair, and Southern Living. She recently published, The Wines of Southwest USA in addition to six regional cookbooks. She also co-hosts podcast, Another Bottle Down.

Connect:

Website: https://www.jessicadupuy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicandupuy/

Twitter: https://x.com/jessicandupuy

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Until next time, Cin Cin!

Diego Maradona