G.D. Vajra

Aldo Vajra chooses his own path

Aldo Vajra grew up in Turin. His family’s roots were in Barolo, and the memories of weekends spent in that village during his childhood were deeply etched in his heart. He studied agronomy and, bucking the trend of the time, decided to return to the countryside. For several decades after World War II, the Piemonte region suffered from depopulation. Farm plots were small, the prices paid to producers were low, and Barolo itself had not yet become the brand that is celebrated around the world today. Young people were leaving for factories and cities, and there was no sign of a reverse trend. Aldo chose the opposite path. In the winery’s own archives, this step is described as a “stubborn move in the opposite direction,” and that is an accurate description. In the early 1980s, Milena joined him, and over the next ten years, the two of them built the winery, eventually turning Barolo into one of Italy’s most sought-after wines. Today, G.D. Vajra is a family-run business. Giuseppe, Francesca, and Isidoro Vajra, along with Aldo and Milena, all work at the winery. Mahler’s words, which the family loves to quote, “Tradition is not the preservation of ashes, but the passing on of the flame”, could not be more fitting for this winery, which has now passed into the hands of the second generation.

Where the vines sit

The heart of this winery is located in the small hamlet of Vergne, perched above the village of Barolo, on one of the highest plots in this appellation. Here, altitude plays a crucial role. Thanks to cool nighttime temperatures and a long growing season, the Nebbiolo grape ripens slowly while retaining high acidity.

From this base, G.D. Vajra manages vineyards located in several traditional Barolo wine-growing areas. “Bricco delle Viole,” situated on the Vergne hillside, is this estate’s flagship cuvée. “Ravera” is located in the municipality of Novello, and “Coste di Rose” is in the town of Barolo itself. Fossati in La Morra is one of the sites where grapes are grown for the production of Dolcetto wines.

In addition, this winery inherited the historic estates of L. Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, adding to its holdings a plot located even further east within this region, characterized by a warmer climate and fuller-bodied wines, which has given the winery entirely different characteristics.

Altitude as a style choice

Barolo is not a single terroir, but rather a collection of many terroirs, and the Vajra family has purposefully acquired plots, each of which possesses its own unique character. Bricco delle Viole, located at an altitude of about 400 meters, is one of the coolest areas in this appellation. Wines from Bricco delle Viole are distinguished by their aromatic bouquet and light flavor, as well as a firm structure resulting from their high elevation.

Ravera, located in Novello, lies within one of Barolo’s oldest geological zones, with soil rich in limestone. The wines produced here have a more robust structure and minerality, making them suitable for long-term aging. Serralunga, home to the Baudana vineyards, adds another dimension to the picture: the wines are more full-bodied, with strong tannins and a deep flavor.

A common trait among all these vineyards is the priority given to freshness over heaviness. This is achieved through a combination of careful vineyard selection, cultivation methods, and sound decisions made at the winery.

What grows here

Although Nebbiolo is the primary grape variety, the range of varieties cultivated by G.D. Vajra is exceptionally diverse for a Barolo producer. In addition to classic red wines, the lineup includes an authentic Riesling, rare bottles of Freisa, and Moscato d’Asti.

• Nebbiolo: for Barolo and Langhe-Nebbiolo wines
• Barbera: bottled under the names “Barbera d’Alba” and “Barbera d’Alba Superiore”
• Dolcetto: including the single-vineyard wine “Coste & Fossati”
• Freisa: an ancient Piedmontese variety, whose traditions are preserved in the wine called “Kyè” (Kyè)
• Pinot Nero: from the Langhe region
• Riesling: grown in Vergne and bottled under the name “Pétracine”
• Moscato: used to produce Moscato d’Asti

In the cellar

The Vajra winery's approach to winemaking is deliberately free of any pretentiousness. Nebbiolo undergoes extended maceration and is aged not in small new barrels (barriques), but in traditional large botti (large Slavonian oak barrels), and the winemakers do not seek to highlight anything beyond the wine’s natural fruit flavors. This choice, "botti instead of barriques", is of great significance. Thanks to this, the aroma is preserved, and the region’s character is not overshadowed by notes of vanilla or toasted bread. Barolo from Vajra typically exudes not oak notes, but the aromas characteristic of this variety: rose, tar, cherry, and dried herbs. In addition, this winery produces “Barolo Chinato” according to a family recipe, a flavored Barolo that is traditionally enjoyed after meals in Piemonte, a rarity these days for producers to take the time to create these wines.

The range

The range of wines produced by G.D. Vajra is broad for a winery in Barolo. Among the Barolo wines, “Albe” is the entry-level wine, a blend of grapes harvested from three vineyards. All of these vineyards are located at high altitudes above sea level and face the rising sun. “Coste di Rose,” “Ravera,” and “Bricco delle Viole” are single-vineyard wines, each of which reveals different facets of this region. “Coste di Rose” has the most floral aroma, “Ravera” has the boldest flavor, and “Bricco delle Viole” has the most aromatic and vibrant flavor. In addition to Barolo, this winery produces Langhe Nebbiolo, Barbera d’Alba (including Superiore), two varieties of Dolcetto, Freisa Kyè, Pinot Nero, “Claré J.C.” (a light Nebbiolo crafted in the traditional Langhe style), “Riesling Pétracine,” a rosé wine called “Rosabella,” “Moscato d’Asti,” and “Barolo Chinato.” This is one of the most extensive lineups in the Langhe region, which is one of the reasons this winery is so highly regarded.