New videos from G.D. Vajra website . . . . this is a little about Milena Vaira, matriarch . . .

Dinner with Francesca Vaira of G.D. Vajra at Officine Brera - Thursday, September 15th

Come meet Francesca Vaira of G.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana from Piemonte, Italy and eat some great food from renowned chef Angelo Auriana at Officine Brera in DTLA. 

MENU

PASSED APPETIZER

merluzzo smoked salted water codfish, white endive, young onion, parsley oil

lardo cured crispy polenta, pork back fat, chestnut honey, pink peppercorn 

farinata chickpea flower, garda olive oil, cracked pepper

G.D. Vajra NV Metodo Classico Rose`, “N.S. Della Neve” 

FIRST COURSE

pisarei e fasö house-made bread dumplings, borlotti beans, cured pork, reggiano

G.D. Vajra 2014 Langhe DOC, Riesling “Petracine” 

G.D. Vajra 2013 Dolcetto d'Alba DOC “Coste e Fossati” 

ENTRÉE

guanciola wood oven braised beef cheek, polenta taragna, foraged mushrooms

G.D. Vajra 2011 Barbera Superiore 

G.D. Vajra 2011 Barolo, Cru Bricco delle Viole DOCG

DESSERT 

assorted dessert platter

G.D. Vajra 2015 Moscato d'Asti DOCG 

$150 tax and tip included

1331 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

officinebrera.com

(213) 553-8006

Thursday, September 15th

7 pm to 10 pm

Call for reservations!

Tooling around the Langhe on a scooter on one of our last days in Italy . . .

Checking out Luigi Baudana for the first time  . . . 

Grapes, they are a coming, in the Baudana vineyard

The Castello di Serralunga in Serralunga

Looking over the Langhe

Scenes from a Beaune Imports Champagne tasting . .. .

The wines of Filippo Ayunta from Etna . . .

Mt Etna smoking in the background

Filippo Ayunta and his family farm 2.8 hectares of very old vines on the northeastern slopes of Mt. Etna, an active volcano. The weather extremes in these high-elevation (700 meters) locations are well known and can involve long droughts punctuated by hail and everything in between. These volcanic soils nourish indigenous varietals that were co-planted to several varietals over the last centuries, and are part of an intriguing genetic patrimony that is unique to this location.

The reds are mostly Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio and the whites mostly Carricante and Catarratto however there are many other lesser know varietals mixed in. No chemicals are used in the vineyards and all of the work is done by hand. Weeding is done by bringing in the sheep of a local shepard...This is truly artisanal winegrowing. The barrels used are large and made of chestnut, cherry and oak woods and the wines are aged long enough for non-filtered bottling. Only native yeasts are used in the wine-making and minimal sulfur levels are respected.

Filippo Ayunta on the left and Francesco Cirelli on the right!

 

Lava flow in the vineyard

Cariccante

Showing the rocky volcanic soil

White vine on one side and red vine on the other!

Etna

One little perfect grape.

Harvest 2015

Fully ripe Carricante

Nerello (but which I don't know.)

Open topped concrete fermenters

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Before pruning

After pruning

Grapes aren't the only thing that can be found on Etna

New G.D. Vajra wines . . . .

Rose` from Vajra?  Sure . . . Rosabella!

2015 Luigi Baudana Langhe Bianco

2015 G.D. Vajra Langhe Riesling

Should I do the Langhe Rosso?

2015 G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d'Alba

2014 G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d'Alba Coste e Fossati - built to last

2013 G.D. Vajra Barbera Superiore 

2014 G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo

2012 G.D. Vajra Barolo Albe - This is special.

2012 G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera 

2012 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole - always my favorite

2012 Luigi Baudana Barolo Serralunga

2012 Luigi Baudana Cru Cerretta - new label 

2012 Luigi Baudana Cru Baudana

2012 G.D. Vajra Langhe Freisa - I have this now and it is great.

2015 G.D. Vajra Moscato