Bianchi, an historic estate, has roots dating back to 1785. The winery was run by the Bianchi family for nearly two centuries and was one of the first to bottle wine -- starting in 1860, before the union of Italy, and before many producers in Barolo had begun bottling. Sizzano, where they are based, is both a town and an appellation just south of Ghemme on the eastern side of the Sesia river. Their holdings, however, are spread over the top regions of Alto Piemonte with vineyards in some of the prime parcels, including the famed Valferana vineyard in Gattinara, with additional holdings in Ghemme and Sizzano.

Giuseppe Bianchi was the person who elevated the winery’s status to be considered one of the top in the area, specifically with his purchases of key vineyards in both Gattinara and Ghemme. His daughter ran the company after Giuseppe passed along with her son-in-law, but they decided to sell in 2021. Luca Pasquero-Elia of Paitin estate in Barbaresco was interested in the region for some time and was excited by the potential of the appellations. Land planted to vineyards in Ghemme and Gattinara has decreased significantly, though historically, these were some of the most respected and expensive estate-bottled wines in Italy.  The Pasquero-Elia and Bianchi families reached an agreement to purchase the winery and its vineyards with the explicit goal of returning the historic property to its former glory. Notably, they were also the first winery in Alto Piemonte to work naturally in the vineyards. The Bianchi vineyards have not seen chemicals for many decades, with incredibly healthy soils and old vineyards.  With Luca Pasquero-Elia leading the way, with the help of his father, Giovanni, and uncle Silvano, they are systematically making improvements in both the cellar and vineyards, working to express the incredible parcels in their holdings. Having had centuries worth of experience in Barbaresco, the family is well-suited to the challenge!

All their wines will be from the estate vineyards. The first releases are a white, red and rosato, called Monte Bianco, Monte Rosso, and Monte Rosa, respectively. The white wine, Monte Bianco, is an Erbaluce, made from a small parcel in the subzone Malpaghe within Sizzano, while the Red and Rosato are made from younger vines and/or smaller parcels from across their holdings. 2023 was the first vintage for Gattinara, as well as a cru Valferana Gattinara, released in the fall three years after the vintage.

These wines are classically made, combining the purity of fruit and elegance that the Paitin wines show, along with the mineral-driven focus and complexity that is typical of many wines of Alto Piemonte.