G.D. Vajra

In 1968, a Turin father sent his fifteen-year-old son to the countryside as a punishment – the boy had marched in student protests. The son's name was Aldo Vajra, the land was Barolo, and the punishment turned into a vocation. Three years later, the winery was the first organic winery in Piedmont. Today, Aldo and Milena and their three children Giuseppe, Francesca and Isidoro run forty hectares in the highest vineyards in the municipality of Barolo – and prove with this Moscato that a house that cultivates legendary Nebbiolo crus such as Bricco delle Viole also takes the supposedly light wines seriously.

A lively and by no means everyday expression of Piedmont: this Dolcetto comes from sustainably cultivated vineyards on calcareous soils around Vergne, from vines between 25 and 60 years old (!), grown with dedication and honest meticulousness. Hand-picking took place from the end of September to the beginning of autumn, followed by a relatively long alcoholic maceration with careful temperature management. Maturation took place exclusively in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the freshness and originality of the fruit.

Piedmont in a bottle – not as a miniaturisation, but as an essence. Nebbiolo brings structure and bright cherry fruit, Barbera contributes juicy acidity, Dolcetto rounds off with soft tannins, and in the background Freisa and Albarossa whisper of the diversity of grape varieties in a region that is far more than just Barolo and Barbaresco. The Vajras call this wine "an embrace from Piedmont", and that is exactly how it feels: Warm-hearted, accessible, without ever becoming arbitrary. The grapes come from younger vines, are vinified separately and only then combined into a cuvée, a process that requires precision where others simulate simplicity.

Rare white wine from Vajra's 4-hectare Baudana boutique vineyard in Serralunga. Light, bright straw yellow colour. Fresh bouquet of citrus fruit, nectarine, flint and flower meadow. Fine acid wire on the palate, interesting flavours and a medium body, making it a perfect accompaniment to exotic and light summer dishes. Fresh finish with beautiful minerality . SUPERIORE.DE

Don't be surprised: This expressive, fresh red could also be a rosé. This serious fun-maker is a wonderfully refreshing yet extremely flavoursome Nebbiolo with an expressive bouquet of crushed raspberries and strawberries, making it an ideal food companion or "just" spring or summer wine that can easily be enjoyed on its own. Very electrifying and a real pleasure to drink! SUPERIORE.DE

A charismatic representative from the Alba region: this Barbera reflects the diversity of the Vajra vineyards – a spirited expression of the grape variety, vinified with attention to detail and many years of biodynamic expertise. The colour in the glass is a bright ruby red with a violet hue. An elegant bouquet of fresh cherries, fine spicy notes and a floral touch on the nose – delicate violet accents included. This wine simply smells of lively freshness and archetypal Barbera characteristics. On the palate, it reveals a juicy fruit structure, supported by a balanced, lively acidity and softly framed tannins. The ageing in stainless steel preserves the varietal purity, the natural flavours and provides an invigorating freshness. The finish is slightly spicy and persistent with an elegant aftertaste. A Piedmontese all-rounder for everyday enjoyment: charming, clear as a bell and highly drinkable – a stylish statement for uncomplicated enjoyment! SUPERIORE.DE

An honest statement from Piedmont: This pure Nebbiolo comes from young vines (both Tortonese and Serravallese terroir) in higher altitudes around Barolo, Novello and Sinio. Following natural standards and traditional vinification, it reflects the purity of the variety in its purest form. The ageing in stainless steel with a minimal amount of neutral wood emphasises this pure fruit and the origin without any masking.

A captivating Pinot Nero with a poetic expression of the Langhe terroir: strictly selected grapes from organically farmed vineyards are vinified with the utmost care. After manual harvesting and fermentation, the wine matures for 18 months in tonneaux, which give it structure without masking its freshness. The ageing process combines depth with elegant finesse – an art that Vajra has mastered for many years.

This wine bears the small print name Viola delle Viole, although its fruit comes from the Bricco delle Viole and Bricco Bertone vineyards, two sites with different soil types, one of which provides structure and the other aromatic purity. Opens with a dark, almost impenetrable appearance. Powerful aromas of blackberry jam and preserved cherries unfold on the nose. You can feel its warmth and richness and there is no way around it. It is a super-sized Barbera that goes one better in terms of extraction and intensity. The finish is almost sweet, followed by good acidity. It shows great aromatic perfection, length and a very accentuated style. SUPERIORE.DE

The pioneer of Riesling on Italian soil is Aldo Vajra. Already fascinated by the variety as a student, he planted the first vines of the White Riesling variety in the Langa. Very light yellow-green in colour when young, developing into a strong straw yellow. The flavours of the noble Pètracine also take a varied course. Starting with peach and apricot, delicate floral and citrus notes follow in the middle, while minerality takes centre stage as the wine matures. Harmonious and precisely structured on the palate, almost austere, fascinatingly complex and long. Great ageing potential! SUPERIORE.DE

Kyè – piedmontese for "chi è?", who is that? The question is part of the programme. Freisa was once one of the most important grape varieties in Piedmont, then fell into oblivion, displaced by Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. It is no coincidence that Aldo Vajra, of all people, took it seriously again in 1980: in 2004, genetic research proved what the old winegrowers had long suspected – freisa is the closest relative of Nebbiolo, probably even a parent. The Vajras have been bottling a dry Freisa since 1989 and have thus initiated a renaissance that is setting a precedent today. The grapes for the Kyè come from Aldo's own selezione massal from 1980, planted in San Ponzio at the lower edge of the legendary Bricco delle Viole – the vineyard closest to the winery. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then matured for 26 months in large Slavonian oak barrels.

Albe! ... the poetic name of this Barolo refers to the sky at sunrise, as experienced by the various terroirs of the estate: Coste di Vergne, Fossati and La Volta. These high-altitude sites each produce slightly different dawns, which is symbolically reflected in the harmony of the cuvée. The grapes come from young but ripe Nebbiolo vines and combine the nuances of each parcel to create a flowing, elegant expression. The 2021 vintage is characterised by freshness and balance: Long vegetation phase at ideal temperatures, accompanied by cool nights that preserve intense fruit with lively acidity. The grapes were carefully harvested by hand, each parcel was vinified separately and only combined into a cuvée in the spring before bottling. The wine is matured for around 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels (40–75 hl) with annual racking – a maturation that allows for depth and harmony.

In the Barolo world, Serralunga d'Alba stands for strength, depth and remarkable longevity. The Nebbiolo grapes come from selected plots in the municipality, characterised by barren, iron-rich clay-marl soils with veins of sand from the Helvetic formation. These soils give the wines their characteristic tannic structure, while the altitude of 320 to 400 metres ensures cool nights and slow, even ripening. The 2021 vintage provided ideal conditions. Sunny, clear days and fresh nights harmonised fruit precision and aromatic depth. Each parcel was harvested separately, gently fermented and then matured for around 30 months in large Slavonian oak barrels to preserve the typicality of the terroir while developing supple, multi-layered tannins.

The latest addition to Vajra's Barolo line-up comes from a 1.5-hectare plot in Coste di Rose, a small MGA (Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive) in the Barolo region. This is a steep slope at 310 metres above sea level with a high proportion of sandy soils with good drainage, whose vines and soils are cultivated close to nature. This very accessible Barolo is straightforward, forward and impresses even at a young age with its refreshing candour. A very precise bouquet of cherry, plum, liquorice, spices and menthol, followed by a broad and multi-layered fruity palate with plenty of juice and power, supportive tannins and a full, long, mineral and minty finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Coste di Rose is a gently curving, east-facing single vineyard above Barolo, famous for its unusually sandy soils from the Sant'Agata formation. Inclusions of limestone and marl are found between the layers of light-coloured, fine sand – a terroir that moulds Nebbiolo here into one of the most fragrant, finesse-rich Barolo styles in the region. The vines are planted at an altitude of around 240 to 270 metres, which, in combination with the airy location, ensures slow maturation and a particularly elegant tannin structure. The top 2021 vintage brought ideal ripening conditions: sunny days, cool nights and a flawless September led to fully ripe grapes with clear fruit and a fine balance of acidity. The grapes were harvested exclusively by hand, parcel by parcel and strictly selectively. After a gentle, long fermentation, the wine was matured organically for around 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels to preserve its floral elegance and silky texture.

G.D. Vajra's Ravera (whose vineyard extends over the municipalities of Novello and Barolo) is always the most angular, powerful and vertical of their collection. It comes from soils with clay and sandstone at 320 to 340 metres above sea level. This is the ideal place for wines that show both power and elegance. The tannins are sweet, but every fibre of the backbone is dense and firm. Red and purple fruits with liquorice, tar and white truffle are neatly packaged here and only reveal themselves gradually, but then with beautiful precision and straightforwardness. The final has a wonderfully long aftertaste, superb! SUPERIORE.DE

Ravera is considered one of the great Grand Cru sites of Barolo – majestically situated on a south-west facing high plateau of Novello. G.D. Vajra's plots here lie at an altitude of 320 to 340 metres, where the vines are deeply rooted in the calcareous and clayey marl soils of the Sant'Agata formation. This geological mixture gives the wine its characteristic depth, firm structure and mineral signature. Ravera is famous for Barolo with cool precision, rich fruit and enormous ageing potential. The 2021 vintage offered picture-perfect conditions: a harmonious growing season with no periods of extreme heat, a long, sunny autumn with cool nights and a late, perfectly ripe harvest at the end of October. Fermentation took place gently with an extended maceration period to maximise colour, structure and aromatic finesse. The organic ageing for 30+ months in large Slavonian barrels was deliberately restrained in order to preserve the powerful but nuanced personality of the terroir unadulterated.

Between the rugged ridges of Serralunga d'Alba lies the historic Baudana cru site – a name that is not just a geographical point, but a synonym for concentration, depth and a centuries-old winemaking tradition. The vines here are rooted in compact, calcareous marl with clay veins, a soil that gives the Nebbiolo vines their characteristic tension and immense Storage potential. The 2020 vintage benefited from a long, harmonious vegetation cycle, with a mild spring, warm but not overheated summer months and clear, cool nights right through to the harvest. The grapes were carefully harvested by hand in mid-October and gently destemmed in the winery. After a classic, long maceration, the wine matured for around 32 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, allowing it to develop its depth without losing the precision of the fruit.

Cerretto is a fruit-driven wine of virile, explosive power that shows, among other things, how different the wines of Serralunga can be. Black cherry, plum, sage, menthol and liquorice hit the palate in a firm, tannic Barolo that will require some patience, but already presents itself with remarkable freshness, purity and nuance. Cerretta is the embodiment of the richness and structure of Serralunga. SUPERIORE.DE