# Gaia & Rey Langhe Bianco DOP (2022)

- **Producer:** Gaja
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €330
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** grapefruit, apricot, peach, lemon, cloves, toasted bread, vanilla, honey, nutmeg, almond

## About this wine

Gaia & Rey Langhe Bianco DOP is a 100% Chardonnay from the Gaja winery in Piedmont, Italy. It is recognized as one of Italy's premier white wines, a testament to Gaja's pioneering spirit in producing high-quality white wines in a region traditionally dominated by reds. The wine is named in honor of Angelo Gaja's daughter, Gaia, and his grandmother, Clotilde Rey, representing the family's heritage and future. Sourced from old vines in the Langhe district, it highlights the potential of this terroir for producing complex and elegant white wines.

## Interesting facts

- First white wine produced by the iconic Gaja winery.
- Named after Angelo Gaja's daughter and grandmother.
- Chardonnay from a region famous for its red wines.
- Vines are over 40 years old.

## Food pairing

The wine's structure and complexity allow it to stand up to richer seafood and white meat dishes. Its vibrant acidity cuts through creamy sauces and complements the natural sweetness of shellfish, while subtle oak notes can harmonize with buttery preparations.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for Gaia & Rey begins with manual harvesting of ripe Chardonnay grapes. The grapes are then destemmed, pressed, and settled. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes aging for 6 to 8 months, or up to 12 months, in 225-liter French oak barrels (barriques), with some vintages potentially utilizing larger oak vessels. This process is guided by environmentally friendly agricultural practices.