Héctor Walter Giardino (born 6 March 1960) is an Argentine guitarist and the leader of the heavy metal and hard rock band Rata Blanca.

In 1981 Walter Giardino as a guitarist and vocalist founded Punto Rojo with Gustavo Andino (drums) and Roberto Cosseddu (bass).

In 1986, after his departure from V8, Giardino founded Rata Blanca with Gustavo Rowek (drums), Rodolfo Cava (vocals) and Yulie Ruth (bass), with this line-up the band recorded a demo.

For this event the band recruited Sergio Berdichevsky (rhythm guitar), Saul Blanch (vocals) and a new bassist Guillermo Sanchez.

In 1990 the band recorded Magos, espadas y rosas with Adrián Barilari on the vocals and Hugo Bistolfi as an official member in the keyboard duties.

The band was conformed by Rata Blanca members Danilo Moschen and Fernando Scarcella (also in the first era of Temple), and Pablo Motyzak.

Wanting to gain a more international profile, Giardino approached former Rainbow singer Doogie White to record an English version of the Forgotten Kingdom album in 2009.

Giardino cited Ritchie Blackmore, Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour, Yngwie Malmsteen, Niccolò Paganini and Johann Sebastian Bach as his major influences.