Variety: Riesling

The G.D. Vajra winery was created in 1972 by Aldo and Milena Vaira, initially from vineyards planted by Aldo’s father in 1947. The winery was named for Aldo’s father, Giuseppe Domenico Vajra, because at the time Aldo was not old enough to establish the winery in his own name. Today the family has 40 hectares under vine in Barolo and other surrounding appellations. Their prized holdings in Bricco delle Viole were planted in 1949 by Aldo’s grandfather. Milena and Aldo’s three children – Giuseppe, Francesca, and Isidoro – are all involved in the family winery operation situated in the village of Vergne. The family is hard-working, passionate, and caring. Their focus is on building something for their children, caring about the community, and cementing the stories of the regions’ past. The family is longtime friends of Hart & Cru. They continue to uphold their passion for quality wine and the people who surround them.

Aldo took it upon himself to cultivate the first Riesling of Piedmonte in the high elevation hillsides of Fossati and Bricco Bertone. Says Francesca Vajra, “my father has been the pioneer of Riesling in Piedmont. An intuition born in the late 1970s and put into effect in 1985. The story of Riesling narrates his passion and curiosity very well: extremely respectful of our land but open to the world. For my brothers and I it has been the opportunity to fall in love with Riesling and be surprised by our father being in love with his work."