Region: Piemonte

Production:  65,000 Bottles  

Site: Brunorocca.it

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In 1958, with great foresight and vision, Francesco "Nonno" Rocca purchased the Rabajà vineyard; the most prestigious cru in Barbaresco and moved the entire family after over 100 years living in the center of the town of Barbaresco.

The land in Rabajà had always been renowned for producing high-quality grapes; in fact, they were sold at a significantly higher price than other Nebbiolo grapes from Barbaresco. Further proof of the historical quality of these venerable vineyards comes from the local commune that in 1967 was already bottling the Rocca grapes separately under the label "Vineyards from southwest Rabajà."

In 1978, Bruno Rocca changed the course of the family history once again and began bottling under the family name Bruno Rocca Barbaresco.

In 1990, the Rocca vineyard holdings expanded the family line to include bottlings of Langhe Nebbiolo, Barbera d'Alba and d'Asti, Dolcetto d'Alba, and Langhe Chardonnay alongside Barbaresco. Further expansion has added the Barbaresco vineyards of Currà, San Cristoforo, and Marcorino.

Today, Bruno Rocca's children Luisa and Francesco work alongside him in the family business. They produce their wines organically and hold the organic certification. They tend the vines and the land with respect and the knowledge passed down through generations of Piemontese farmers.

CADET Langhe Chardonnay DOC

While Chardonnay is grown the world over, the Langhe hills offer a unique soil composition and microclimate that elevates their Chardonnay to DOC status.  The Cadet Langhe Chardonnay finds its location much like other Chardonnay produced around the Barbaresco area, relegated to hills that are less desirable for Nebbiolo.   Fortunately the higher elevation, colder climate vineyards are the perfect match for Chardonnay vines.  The Cadet sees 12 months aging but only 20% in barrique, allowing for the true spirit of the grape and terroir to shine clearly through with the small oak regimen softening up the minerality and acid allowing the fruit to blossom.  Produced only in small quantities and exceptional after 5-8 years cellar aging, the wine is highly complex with sun melon and sweet apple tobacco notes built on crisp minerality and ripe acidity.

Appellation:   Langhe Chardonnay DOC

Varietal:  100% Chardonnay

Area:  Neive (Barbaresco)

Altitude:  300masl

Soil:  Clay / Blue Marl / Limestone

Vine age:  40 years

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 15 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   14 months – 80% stainless steel / 20% standard French barrique

Cellar:  5-8+ years

ABV:  13.5%

Trifolè Dolcetto d’Alba DOC

The Trifolé vineyard sits directly on the southern border of the Rocca Rabajà plantings.  This tiny plot benefits from the same chalky soil as Rabajà making it perfect for Dolcetto vines.   The Trifolé provides a classic interpretation with deep structure and minerality coupled with the elegant sweet blue fruit, the signature of a fine Dolcetto.

Appellation:   Dolcetto d’Alba DOC

Varietal:  100% Dolcetto

Area:  Neive (Barbaresco)

Altitude:  300masl

Soil:  Clay / Blue Marl / Limestone

Vine age:  50 years

Yield:  50hl/ ha

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 10 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   10 months stainless steel

Cellar:  5-8+ years

ABV:  13.5%

Production:  9,000 bottles 

Barbera d’Alba DOC

Bruno Rocca produces his Barbera d’Alba from 60 year old vines grown in the lower elevations of the Fausoni and Currà vineyards.   Benefiting from the warmer climate and fertile soil, the Barbera shows classic acidity coupled with intense dark fruits; plum, blackberries, cherries, and hints of mulberry.  The old vines create a dense and structured palate that softens through the mid after the initial bold fruited attack.

Appellation:   Barbera d’Alba DOC

Varietal:  100% Barbera

Area:  Currà and Fausoni vineyards in Neive

Altitude:  300masl

Soil:  Blue Marl / Limestone

Vine age:  60 years

Yield:  50hl/ ha

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 10 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   12 months standard French barrique

Cellar:  5-8+ years

ABV:  14.5%

Production:  8,000 bottles

Barbera d’Asti DOCG

The Barbera d’Asti comes from the newest addition to the Rocca family estates and adds another DOCG product to the line.  The tiny 3ha plot provides a terroir specific expression of Barbera in the hands of a masterful family of Piemontese winemakers.  While the Alba versions tend to be more brooding and reserved, their Asti counterparts are warm and expressive tending to supple fruit balanced with tart, ripe acidity.

The Rocca’s Barbera d’Asti fills the palate with ripe berries and pulpy pomegranate played over bursts of plum, graphite, and cherry Twizzler.   The structure is somehow immense yet soft and pliable, ready for anything.

Appellation:   Barbera d’Asti DOC

Varietal:  100% Barbera

Area:  Village of Vaglio Serra

Altitude:  280masl

Soil:  Limestone / Sand / Red Clay

Vine age:  35 years

Yield:  50hl/ ha

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 10 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   12 months standard French barrique

Cellar:  8-10+ years

ABV:  14.5%

Production:  10,000 bottles

Fralù Langhe Nebbiolo DOC

The Bruno Roca Langhe Nebbiolo comes from the younger vines on the estate until they are mature enough to produce the nuanced and terroir driven characteristics of a Barbaresco.  The name comes from Bruno’s children, Francesco and Luisa hence “Fralù”.  Although the vines are yet to be ready for use in their impressive Brethren, they allow us early access to the great terroir and winemaking philosophy of the Rocca house at a fraction of the entry fee.

All the grapes for the Fralù are harvested from Barbaresco rated vineyards.  Fralù is a fresh and vibrant wine with an outgoing style that shows off the great cherry, raspberry, and fresh spice that is the characteristics of young Nebbiolo.  The mid-palate is mineral driven through the long and harmonious finish giving a glimpse of the terroir and complexity that the vines will someday showcase.  

Appellation:   Langhe Nebbiolo DOC

Varietal:  100% Nebbiolo

Area:  Neive

Altitude:  300masl

Soil:  Limestone / Sand / Red Clay

Vine age:  15 years

Yield:  50hl/ ha

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 10 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   12 months standard French barrique, 10% new then 12 months refinement in bottle

Cellar:  5-8+ years

ABV:  14.5%

Production: 18,000

Barbaresco DOCG

The Rocca name is as synonymous with Barbaresco as it is with Rabajà.   They are linked with the land and the wine in a way that only generations of farming tradition can imbue.  Barbaresco from the estate is produced from a blend of grapes sourced from the estate’s San Cristoforo, Marcorino, and Fausoni vineyards.  It represents the both the essence of Rocca’s Nebbiolo as well as the essence of Barbaresco as a whole.  The iconic drawn feather on the label and the Bruno Rocca name identify immediately with Barbaresco.  An elegant and complex wine it exhibits classic rose and violet petals on the nose with an intense attack of tea herbs and hard candied fruit that gives way to rich, lush, buoyant wild cherry and brambly currants.

Appellation:   Barbaresco DOCG

Varietal:  100% Nebbiolo

Area:  Neive – San Cristoforo, Marcorino, Fausoni vineyards

Altitude:  300masl

Soil:  Limestone / Sand / Clay

Vine age:  30 years

Yield:  40hl/ ha

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 25 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   18 months standard French barrique, 10% new then 8 months refinement in bottle

Cellar:  15+ years

ABV:  14.5%

Production: 15,000 bottles

Currà Barbaresco DOCG

The Curra vineyard lies on a Southwest facing slope at the southern end of the Neive commune.  The small 4ha plot was purchased by the Rocca family in 2001 and only produces 4,000 bottles each vintage.  Currà is a charmed and intoxicating wine that shows it’s terroir with character and grace, unfurling shyly at first then blossoming in a dazzling display of texture and multi-layered complexity.

Appellation:   Barbaresco DOCG

Varietal:  100% Nebbiolo

Area:  Currà

Altitude:  280masl

Soil:  Limestone / Sand / Clay

Vine age:  30 years

Yield:  40hl/ ha

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 25 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   18 months standard French barrique, 10% new then 8 months refinement in bottle

Cellar:  15+ years

ABV:  14.5%

Production: 4,000 bottles

Rabajà Barbaresco DOCG

The Rabajà vineyard was purchased by Bruno’s grandfather in 1958 along with a farmhouse of the same name and is where the heart of the winery still sits today.  The Rabajà cru was one of the first benchmark crus of Barbaresco and remains today world renown and always identified with the Bruno Rocca name.  The Rocca name will always be linked through this cru to the historical fabric of artisanal Barbaresco production.  The wine is enthralling and intense when young like a thoroughbred yearning at the gate.  Full throttle fruit and juicy ripe tannin conduct a tremendous symphony filled with the intrigue of dark spice, vintage tobacco pouch, and heirloom jam.

Appellation:   Barbaresco DOCG

Varietal:  100% Nebbiolo

Area:  Rabajà

Altitude:  300masl

Soil:  Limestone / Sand / Clay

Vine age:  60+ years

Yield:  40hl/ ha

Vinification:  Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank 25 days selected native yeasts

Aging:   12 months standard French barrique and large tonneaux, 10% new barrique then 12 months refinement in bottle

Cellar:  15+ years

ABV:  14.5%

Production: 4,000 bottles