In the hills of Vergne—tucked between Barolo, La Morra, and Narzole—stands Azienda Agricola Vaira Francesco, a young estate rooted in devotion. Here, among the undulating vineyards, two brothers, Francesco and Giacomo, carry forward a legacy etched into the land by their late father, Aurelio. His spirit lives on not just in their labor, but in the name they’ve given their wines: Aurelj, a nod to both his memory and the dialect of their home.

Their vineyards are a patchwork of micro-parcels perched at 450 meters, where limestone and clay catch the sun from both southeast and southwest. Some fall within the Barolo DOCG, others just beyond—but all are farmed with the same reverence. Organic practices, native yeast, no shortcuts. As the brothers put it: compromise is a word they do not know.

The 2023 Vaira Aurelj, Barbera d’Alba is a perfect distillation of their ethos. Plush and generous, with a lift of acidity and just the right flicker of grip, it’s a wine that asks only that you’re present for it. Made without fining or filtration, it hums with dark fruit and the quiet clarity of high-altitude farming.

It’s a fledgling estate with deep roots and a long view. What they offer is rare: a window into a place held close, and tended with quiet, generational love.

...

During warmer months orders are placed on hold, your wines will ship as weather permits and the daily range is consistently between 45 and 74 degrees. Please note pre-arrival sales are non-refundable as suppliers require us to make binding commitments and deposits to secure the wine.