Yesterday evening the sky was like a picture

                                                               

The harvest of Barbera

Yesterday we started the harvest of Barbera and we brought the remaining whites in the cellar. Aldo is very happy with the fermentation of Dolcetto and he is super excited about Coste&Fossati.

Sampling Barberas 

The Dolcetto: from the vineyard to the cellar

Vinification

Picking

Fact Sheet- Barolo DOCG Albe

The Wine

Designation: Barolo DOCG
Wine type: red dry wine
Variety: Nebbiolo 100%
Bottle size: 750 mL, 1500 mL

The Vineyard

Scattered across the Comune of Barolo, the grapes of Fossati, Coste di Vergne, and La Volta meet in our Barolo Albe. In medium altitudes ranging from 400 to 440 meters (1,312 to 1,444 feet), facing different exposures (south-east, south-west, 180° east to west), and different soils, the vines take on different paths of growth, allotting to them their own development, characteristics and maturity. This blend makes our Albe just as unique as its vines.

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest: Second and third week of October
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: 20 days of maceration at free temperature < 32°C.
Method: traditional, with punch-down
M.L.F.: free,within first year
Ageing: 42 months in 25-50 hL Slavonian oak barrels.

Bottlings: two releases: April and August of the 4th year

TASTING NOTES 2007:

A beautiful, sheer dark ruby color. Fragrances of citruses and red fruits, prunes, flowers, pine needles, and brushwood meet the nose. The plump, juicy fruits stand by to the strength of the spices in this Barolo. Delicacy, sophistication, acidity, intensity, and ripe tannins characterize this tasting harmony. Early drinkability as well as a long cellar life make 2007 a marvelous vintage.

“Every morning the sun rises three times over the vineyards of this Barolo. This is Albe (sunrises), a beauty made possible only by the hands of nature. In this wine, we aspire to create something just as simple and yet beautiful and magnificent.”

Milena e Aldo Vaira

Fact Sheet- Barolo DOCG Bricco delle Viole

The Wine

Designation: Barolo DOCG

Wine type: red dry wine
Variety: Nebbiolo 100%
Bottle size: 750 mL, 1500 mL


The Vineyard

Eleven million years ago, at the beginning of the geological era Tortonian, the plateau of Vergne (sub region of Barolo) rose from the sea. The hill is one of the highest in the area (390 to 480 meters / 1,279 to 1,574 feet), creating a unique and distinct microclimate and soil that sets it apart from neighboring terroirs of Barolo, La Morra and Novello. Here is where the climat of Bricco delle Viole rests. 

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest: Second and third week of October
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: 30-40 days at free temperature <32°C.
Method: traditional, punch-down
M.L.F.: free, within first year
Ageing: 42 months in 25-50 hL Slavonian oak barrels

Bottling: August

Located at the most west of Barolo, Bricco Delle Viole has become like a magic vineyard. It’s high position, deep roots, and long maturity season yield to an aromatic complexity and finesse unknown at lower altitudes. Harvested for almost a century, the fruit born of these vines carry with them a wisdom of the land and a maturity that stands out for their balance between alcohol, acidity, and tannins.

TASTING NOTES: 

A translucent burgundy red, perfumes of dark berries and cherry, an allusion to orange and floral notes of violet is what you will find in the nose. In the palate, BDV shows a noble acidity and silky tannins. Long lasting and well balanced, final notes of fruits and flowers make for a graceful and delicious drinking experience. Vibrant and fresh today, this wine’s structure and elegance will develop beautifully over the next twenty years.

Fact Sheet- Langhe DOC Nebbiolo

The Wine

Designation: Langhe DOC Nebbiolo

Wine type: red dry wine
Variety: Nebbiolo 100%
Vintage: 2009
Bottle size: 750 mL



The Vineyard

These grapes are harvested from various estate vineyards in the Comunes of Barolo and Novello. The wonderful Roccabella vineyard, in the the Comune of Sinio, with its south oriented steep terraces enriches this Nebbiolo. The vines are young, from four to seven years of age, and will continue to produce our Langhe Nebbiolo for years. 

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest: First half of October
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: 15-day long fermentation  at free temperature < 29°C.
Method: traditional, punch-down
M.L.F.: right after alcoholic fermentation
Ageing:six months in stainlees steel tanks






Vajra's Langhe DOC Nebbiolo is a pure expression of this grape variety, a "picture" of Nebbiolo fruit and its aromas.


TASTING NOTES 2009: 

A transparent ruby red with an intense, expressive bouquet of violet, rose and berries. The Nebbiolo grape shows itself especially on the palate. It is fresh and well balanced with silky tannins leading into a long finish. Sharing the structure, perfumes, and elegance of a Barolo, our Langhe Nebbiolo is much simpler, showing another face of the Nebbiolo grape.

Fact Sheet- Barbera d'Alba DOC SUPERIORE

The Wine

Designation: Barbera d'Alba DOC
Wine type: red dry wine
Variety: Barbera 100%
Bottle size: 750 mL

The Vineyard

An expression of the terroir, our Barbera comes from an exceptional vineyard. Bricco delle Viole is in the Comune of Barolo, our oldest vineyard and a great Barolo cru, with soils rich in magnesium and manganese and very low in iron. Back in the days, farmers used to plant multiple varieties in each hillside. So called progress drove most of the people to focus on one variety per block. Here, we preserve a small piece of history by saving these old vines.

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest: secon half of September to first decade of October
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: 20-day maceration at free temperature < 32°C.
Method: traditional, punch-down
M.L.F.: during first year of ageing
Ageing: 20-24 months in Slavonian oak casks





TASTING NOTES 2007:

A violet red color followed by great concentration in the nose and mouth classify this 2007 Barbera vintage. Dark fruits, dried herbs, flowers, and liquorice easily coalesce into light mineral notes. Our 2007 vintage Barbera Superiore has a richness and depth that lasts all the way from the nose to the tremendous finish.

“Una Barbera che baroleggia”. This was said to express a terroir driven Barbera with structure and complexity. Somehow, a Barbera that tasted like a Barolo. That’s what we ask to our Superiore: to give us as many facets and emotions of our Barolos, with all the crisp character of its variety. 

The King in his kingdom

Fact Sheet- Barbera d'Alba DOC

The Wine

Designation: Barbera d'Alba DOC
Wine type: red dry wine
Variety: Barbera 100%
Bottle size: 750 mL

The Vineyard

This Barbera is a harmony of six vineyards expressing both the ancient Helvetian and Tortonian soil types of the Piemonte. The vines planted in calcareous soils (Tortonian soil type) produce much more delicate, aromatic wines with bright acidity and tones of wild berries. These are characterised by the sweetness in the mouth and their smooth texture. Helvetian soils offer instead wines full of perfumes of ripe black fruits that differ for their soothing aromas, bold tannic structure and minerality. These characteristics, mixed with a soil high in iron develops a wine with a fleshy richness.

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest: second half of September, but this year we will start during the second week of September
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: 15-day long fermentation at free temperature <31°C.
Method: traditional, with punch-down
M.L.F.: following alcoholic fermentation
Ageing: 14-16 months in French and Slavonian oak casks

Bottling according to evolution and moon cycle, usually at the beginning of the summer of the second year after harvest.

TASTING NOTES 2009: A violet red color alludes to the sweet, dark fruits which make for a distinctive fragrance and rarefied elegance. The powerful nose leads to a rich, concentrated and smooth mouth. The black fruits melt into mineral and graphite notes, leaving a sublime finish. We classify the Barbera as rich and long-lasting, yet intriguing and complex.

Fact Sheet- Dolcetto d'Alba DOC Coste&Fossati

The Wine

Designation: Dolcetto d'Alba DOC
Wine type: red dry wine
Variety: Dolcetto 100% mass selection
Vintage: 2010
Bottle size: 750mL

The Vineyard

The vines of Coste&Fossati come from a private mass selection called " a picciolo rosso" (red stem).
Many years ago, in the search to find the best selection of Dolcetto, Aldo Vaira chose the red stemmed Dolcetto to plant on the hills of Coste and Fossati, making up today, our Dolcetto Coste&Fossati.

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest time: usually made during the third week of September, but this year we started the first week of September
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: 20-day maceration at free temperature <31°C
Method: traditional, punch-down
M.L.F.: before the spring
Ageing: 8-12 months
Bottling: a few weeks prior to the next harvest

TASTING NOTES 2010

A brillant deep violet, the Dolcetto radiates within the glass. 

A beautiful blend of blue and red berries, black cherry, flowers, liquorice, tar and menthol take hold of the senses. Tannins delicately manoeuvre through the mouth to saturate the palate. Elegant and balanced, our Dolcetto has an equilibrium and an ageing potential all of its own.

Mention:

1996: 91pt R. Parker

1999: 90pt Wine Spectator 

2000: 87pt Wine Spectator

2003: 92pt R. Parker

2004: 90pt R. Parker

2005: Super3stelle Veronelli

2006: 5 grappoli A.I.S.

         Super3stelle Veronelli

2007: Super3stelle Veronelli

2009: 91pt R. Parker

The selection of Dolcetto

Fact Sheet- Dolcetto d'Alba DOC

The Wine

Designation: Dolcetto d'Alba DOC
Wine type: red dry wine
Variety: Dolcetto 100%
Sottovar/clone: mass selection + CN22
Vintage: 2010
Bottle size: 750 mL

The Vineyard

There are in the village of Barolo, Coste di Vergne- Fossati- Pascolo, and in the village of Novello, Ravera.

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest: early September
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: 6-10 days of fermentation at free temperature < 30°C
Method: traditional, with punch-down
M.L.F.: right after alcoholic ferm
Ageing: stainless-steel tank until following spring



Dolcetto is a demanding grape variety: it requires good sun exposure and all the attention and care of a prima donna.

We grow our Dolcetto only in vineyards with a great vocation. For us, it is a tribute to this extraordinary indigenous variety, and it brings all the freshness and taste from the fruit to the bottle in a symphony of fragrances and flavors.

TASTING  NOTE 2010: Showing a dress of wonderful violet color and a symphony of fragrances and flavors, our Dolcetto is fresh and true to its variety. Blue and red fruits followed by dried herbs suggesting mint and liquorice. It is smooth and open to the palate, nicely alcoholic and with good tannins that never leave the mouth too dry, all lightened by a fresh acidity. This vintage’s Dolcetto is everything and more with a touch of elegance and class.

Fact Sheet- Langhe DOC Bianco Pétracine

The Wine

Designation:  Langhe DOC Bianco
Wine type: white dry wine
Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling
Bottle size: 750 mL

The Vineyard

Fossati vineyard: situated in the village of Barolo and Bricco Bertone situated in the village of Sinio.

The Farming

Farming: sustainable
Pruning: Guyot mixed system
Ground: natural turfing
Irrigation: no
Green harvest: yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The Harvest

Harvest time: first half of Semptember
Picking: by hand
Sorting: manual

The Vinification

Vinification: soft pressing followed by natural cold settling. Fermentation for 15-20 days at maximum temperature of 16°C
Ageing: stainless stell tank until following spring.



Pétracine is pure Riesling.
Pétracine stands for petra-racine, the "stone root" or better "the root into the stone", evocating the extreme minerality of this variety and this wine.
This Langhe Bianco is the synthesis of German vines,with bright acidity and good structure, and ancient Alsacian vines, with richer body and volume.
It is a mirror to the Vajra's terroir, it's the delicious bride for Barolo, whose minerality, elegance, ageing potential shares.

Pétracine is a long life wine. When young, it is fresh and fruity.
The flavors turn into floreal and mineral hints with time.
Balanced mineral acidity and style rigour in the mounth.
Dry wine, to drink as aperitif or to match with food.

Aldo Vaira has been the pioneer of Riesling in Piemonte. His intuition starts at the end of the '70s during his university education. The dream comes the in 1985-86, when he plants the first Riesling vineyard. Since then he has been studying this noble variety and its adaptation to the Langhe terroir.

Good Morning Barolo

Picking the last Moscato d'Asti and getting ready for Riesling and Dolcetto d'Alba.

Moscato d'Asti 2011...when you say nectar!

Fact Sheet-Moscato d'Asti DOCG

The wine

Designation:      Moscato d'Asti DOCG

Winw type:       sparkling dessert white
Variety:             100% Moscato b.
Sottovar/clones: CN4; AT57

Vintage:             2010

Bottle Size:        750mL

The vineyard

Situated in the village of Mango

The farming

Farming:             sustainable

Pruning:              Guyot mixed system

Ground :             Natural turfing

Irrigation:            no

Green harvest:    yes, according to vigor and climate of the season

The harvest

Harvest time:     first week of September

Picking:             by hand

The vinification

Soft pressing followed by settling. One week fermentation at max temperature of 14°C.

Two bottlings, one in November and one in the following spring.

Vajra's Moscato d'Asti is the quintessence of summer: scent of peach, apricot, apple, pear, citrus and exotic fruits, sage and aromatic herbs. This Moscato is produced with well-ripe fruit, which was left to mature on the vines much longer than average, and then carefully sorted by hand. It's pure fruit, and discloses flavors and sweetness. It's a refreshing glass to share with friends.

TASTING NOTES: pale yellow color. Very refined fizz, persistent and creamy. Nose: scents of yellow fruits: peach, apricot, citrus, followed by herbal hints and exotic fruit. Mouth: bright and pure. The sweet and crispy feeling are greatly integrated and leave the palate clean. Long finish.

The Moscato d'Asti DOCG is part of the wine and culinary tradition of Piemonte.

It's an easy-drinking wine produced with a complex vinification because of the residual sugar.

Our commitment is to produce a pure Moscato, a fruit juice with the smallest possible preservatives content.

A "wine for the party" where health, goodness and pleasure dovetail.