G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo 2024

The Vaira family is based in the small village of Vergne, which sits above the town of Barolo on the westernmost edge of the denomination. They have 10 hectares of Barolo vineyard planted along this western part of the zone, the prime site being Bricco delle Viole, which sits at over 400 metres above sea level. The elevation and westerly orientation make this vineyard an exceptional cru, as it benefits from the cool breezes that flow from the mountains to the west, as well as from morning and evening sun. The style of wine from this site, scented yet ripe, supple yet with great ageing potential, sets the template for the rest of the G.D. Vajra wines.

While Aldo’s grandparents bought the land in the 1920s, his father was educated in Turin, after which he became a lawyer. But it all started for Aldo in 1968 when he was part of a group of protesting students who marched past his father’s office. Shocked at Aldo’s involvement with the marchers, his parents despatched him to the farm in Barolo for the summer, far from the ferment of revolutionary ideas that were in the air in 1968. When he returned to Turin in September, his parents were even more shocked when he told them he wanted to become a farmer and bring the family farm back to life. After much discussion, his parents agreed to him studying Agriculture at university.

During the next four years, Aldo travelled frequently to Vergne to start planting and running a small vineyard, putting into practice what he learned at university. One of the first precepts he implemented was organic viticulture, something that was revolutionary at the time, but which has been core to the G.D. Vajra philosophy ever since. In 1972, he was ready for his first vintage, which turned out to be the worst of the 20th century. Despite the fact that not a bottle of Barolo was produced from the 1972 vintage, he remained calm and committed, teaching viticulture to earn a living while the wines he made in subsequent vintages matured in the cellar. At the same time, he slowly acquired more land where he could. Today, the estate has 20 hectares in Barolo, which include outstanding single vineyards such as ‘Ravera’, ‘Fossati’, ‘La Volta’, ‘Coste di Vergne’, ‘Coste di Rose’ as well as Bricco delle Viole.

Aldo and his wife, Milena, are now joined in this family venture by their children Giuseppe, Francesca and Isidoro. The youngest, Isidoro, works with Aldo to manage the vineyard while Giuseppe looks after the winery and Francesca administration, visits and everything else there is to do in a property this size.