vintage #7 with gian luca colombo
the piedmont partnership
We are thrilled to announce that, for our 7th vintage in Autumn 2025, we’ll be partnering with the remarkable Gian Luca Colombo—a winemaker whose influence on Piedmont’s Barolo scene echoes far beyond his own wines. Dubbed the “architect of neo‑classical Barolo” by Bordeaux Index, Gian Luca is rediscovering the region’s elegance and finesse, merging tradition with creativity for his own wines as well as consulting for many others in the region.
gian luca
Gian Luca didn’t inherit a winery—his roots are humbler, with grandparents in Treiso who farmed grain and tended a few vines. That grounding in hands-on agriculture gave him a different perspective from many of his peers at university. After completing his oenology degree in Alba, he began working under the renowned Giuseppe Caviola in 2003, steadily building his reputation and eventually earning Italy’s Gambelli Young Winemaker of the Year in 2014—no small achievement.
He’s also deeply committed to sustainable farming. Beyond working biodynamically, Gian Luca keeps sheep on his land and integrates tree planting and cover crops to boost biodiversity—a quality sometimes in short supply in the Langhe.
his wines
Gian Luca crafts a wide palette of wines that reflect both place and personality—ranging from his beautifully poised Barolo, to energetic Pinot Nero, vibrant Barbera, and expressive Dolcetto, all the way to the lighter, spicier charms of Pelaverga. His labels, including the increasingly celebrated Segni di Langa, are consistently praised for their precision and purity. Jancis Robinson has listed his Barolo, Pinot Nero, and Nebbiolo d’Alba among her standouts, while his Greta Barbera d’Alba regularly clocks 90+ scores from critics like James Suckling. Jamie Goode describes the Barolo as “fragrant and fine, with some grip and good acidity,” and singles out the Langhe Pinot Nero as “supple, elegant, [with] good acidity and structure… it’s serious.” Even his fun, more experimental bottlings—like the one-litre Nu Rosso field blend—don’t escape attention: Flatiron Wines in San Francisco calls it “insanely drinkable… a bottle that captures the flavour of Piedmont.” Across the board, there’s a throughline of freshness, clarity, and intent in his wines—serious but never stiff, generous but never overdone.
a new look for the school trip
Gian Luca is currently renovating his tasting room which will provide the focal point for our visit in spring-summer 2026, an added incentive to visit the Langhe itself—one of the most breathtaking regions in Italy. Picture rolling hills laced with vineyards, medieval villages perched on ridgelines, and a satiating food culture. Think long lunches in rustic osterias, rich ragù, hazelnut desserts, and locally hunted truffles. We’ve learned the hard way that the local pigs need jobs—otherwise, they’ll eat all your grapes.
We’ll soak up the landscape, the rhythm of rural life, and the deep cultural roots that shape the wines. And as the cherry on the cake: a visit to Gian Luca himself. It’s a rare chance to spend time with one of Piedmont’s most exciting winemakers, taste through his range on home soil, and see his philosophy brought to life in vineyard and glass.
what to expect from our not yet named vintage
Gian Luca and I met recently one evening at a traditional Osteria in Alba, More e Macine, one of the few remaining with a focus on wine. We sat to discuss the collaboration:
“I’ve seen older generations of producers not keeping up with innovation, I don’t want to be sat on my chair in 20 years being overtaken by the next generation — and I feel this could be one of those innovations.”
I was particularly taken with his impeccable attention to detail as we tasted through a range of Langhe Nebbiolos—down to the glass engravings on each bottle, an in depth analysis on each cork, forensic examination of each label—even the superficial elements of wine are super important to Gian Luca. We discussed the various potential decisions that our members could be making, thinking ahead to the impact of each permutation. In between examining different the Nebbiolos, Gian Luca was checking the 6 weather stations he has at each of his vineyards via his phone, I got the feeling we’ll learn more than ever this harvest.
One of the most refreshing aspects of our partnership is the creative freedom Gian Luca has granted us without me asking. He revealed, partially in jest, but I understood the context to be deadly serious.:
“While I have my style and views, I want you (and the subscribers) to have the freedom to take this wine where you want it to go. If this wine turns out better than my own, I may have to make some adjustments!”
I’ve often been falsely accused of having members under my thumb, secretly puppeteering the decisions I want behind the scenes. None of which is true, I’m just chronically averse to making decisions for myself. For vintage #7 we will have the thumb of Gian Luca, which is emblazoned on every wine, guiding us along but Vintage #7 will still have our sticky fingers all over it.
