G. D. Vajra Barolo Albe DOCG 2021

G.D. Vajra was born from youthful rebellion. In 1968, fifteen-year-old Aldo Vajra was sent to his grandparents' Barolo property after participating in Turin's student protests. What began as punishment became passion: by 1972, Aldo had established his own winery in Vergne, naming it for his father Giuseppe Domenico since he was too young to register it himself.

The Vajra family's connection to these hills predates the winery. Aldo's grandparents acquired vineyards in the 1920s, and his grandfather planted the prized Bricco delle Viole site—among Barolo's highest crus at 400-480 meters—in 1949. Aldo's early decision to farm organically proved revolutionary for Piedmont; the estate received one of the region's first organic certifications in 1971, a commitment maintained for over fifty years.

Today G.D. Vajra farms approximately 40 hectares across prestigious sites including Bricco delle Viole, Ravera, Coste di Rose, Fossati, and La Volta. In 2009, the family took stewardship of Cantina Baudana's 2.6 hectares in Serralunga d'Alba. Aldo and his wife Milena now work alongside their three children: Giuseppe oversees winemaking, Francesca manages administration, and Isidoro handles vineyard work with his father.

The winemaking philosophy remains traditional: extended maceration in custom-designed vertical fermenters, spontaneous malolactic fermentation, and aging exclusively in large Slavonian oak casks. Beyond Barolo, the estate pioneered Piedmont's first Riesling (planted 1985) and helped revive Freisa, a nearly forgotten indigenous variety.

Albe ("dawns" in Italian) pays tribute to traditional blended Barolo, combining fruit from multiple high-elevation vineyards rather than bottling single crus. The estate's various exposures allow the family to witness three sunrises daily—hence the name.

Discover more from G.D. Vajra: Langhe Nebbiolo, Dolcetto d'Alba, Rosabella Rosato, Claré J.C.. Browse best-selling natural wines.

Barolo DOCG occupies the Langhe hills of Piedmont in northwestern Italy, producing wines often called "the king of wines and wine of kings." The appellation encompasses eleven communes, with five forming the historic core: Barolo, La Morra, Monforte d'Alba, Serralunga d'Alba, and Castiglione Falletto. Nebbiolo—named for the autumn fog (nebbia) that blankets these hills—is the sole permitted grape variety.

The region's soils divide broadly into two geological formations. The western communes (Barolo, La Morra) contain younger Tortonian soils: calcareous marl with higher clay content, producing more aromatic, earlier-maturing wines. Eastern communes (Serralunga, Monforte) feature older Helvetian soils: sandstone and limestone yielding more structured, age-demanding wines. G.D. Vajra's vineyards sit primarily within the Tortonian zone, contributing to their wines' characteristic elegance.

Elevation plays a critical role. The Barolo zone ranges from approximately 250 to 500 meters above sea level. Higher sites like those in Vergne—the highest village in the Barolo commune—experience greater diurnal temperature variation, preserving acidity while developing aromatic complexity. Climate is continental with alpine influences: cold winters, hot summers tempered by altitude, and significant day-to-night temperature swings during the crucial harvest period of October.

DOCG regulations mandate minimum aging of 38 months from harvest, including at least 18 months in wood. Riserva requires 62 months total aging. Traditional producers like G.D. Vajra favor large Slavonian oak casks (botti) over small French barriques, preserving Nebbiolo's signature aromatics rather than imparting new oak character.

Barolo's reputation has grown dramatically since the 1980s, transforming from a regional specialty into one of Italy's most sought-after wines worldwide.

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