# Langhe DOC Nebbiolo (2024)

- **Producer:** G.D. Vajra
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €22
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** rose, violet, cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, plum, white pepper, cloves, cedar

## About this wine

G.D. Vajra is a highly respected family-owned estate in the Barolo region of Piedmont, established in 1972 by Aldo Vaira. The estate is renowned for its traditional yet incredibly elegant approach to winemaking, emphasizing freshness, aromatics, and vineyard expression over heavy extraction. This Langhe Nebbiolo is sourced from young vines across their estate vineyards, offering a vibrant, accessible introduction to the noble Nebbiolo grape without the long aging requirements of Barolo.

## Interesting facts

- Aldo Vaira was a pioneer of organic farming in the Barolo region, adopting sustainable practices back in the 1970s.
- The winery's name uses the traditional 'J' spelling of the family name, Vajra, which was historically used in Piedmont.
- This wine is crafted to showcase the 'pure' and youthful side of Nebbiolo, focusing on perfume and elegance rather than heavy oak.

## Food pairing

Nebbiolo's high acidity and firm tannins require foods with rich proteins, fats, or earthy flavors to soften the wine's structure. Earthy dishes featuring mushrooms or truffles mirror the wine's savory undertones, while rich meats like duck or lamb cut through the high acidity beautifully.

## Wine making process

The grapes are harvested by hand, typically in October. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with gentle pump-overs to preserve the delicate floral and red fruit aromatics of Nebbiolo. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged primarily in stainless steel and neutral Slavonian oak casks for a short period to maintain its bright, fruit-forward character and fine-grained tannins before bottling.