The first winery distinguished Italian wine writer Franco Ziliani took me and Tracie P to visit on our February trip to Piedmont was GD Vajra in Barolo. Winemaker Aldo Vajra (below) keeps these rocks (calcareous marl, above) on the windowsill of his tasting room to illustrate what gives great Barolo its structure and minerality.
On Sunday, I’ll be speaking about the wines of Piedmont at Jaynes Gastropub in San Diego, where we’ll be tasting Aldo’s excellent 2005 Barolo Albe.
Jaynes Gastropub
4677 30th Street
San Diego, CA
Sunday March 28
5-7pm
$25/person
Call 619-563-1011 or Email Jaynes for reservations
Tickets will also be available at the door.
Piazza Colbert is the largest square in the tiny town of Barolo. “It’s kinda like the Oscars,” said Tracie P, as we waited there for the illustrious Mr. Ziliani to arrive in the piazza, scanning the names of the winemakers plastered to the homes and cellars around the square. “All the stars are here…” I’ll be giving my “Colbert report” on Sunday…
In the meantime, for a great profile of Vajra, check out McDuff’s posts (Vajra is to McDuff what Produttori del Barbaresco is to me). McDuff is a true friend…
Do Bianchi 
I like this post! ;)
and he ended our tasting with the most impressive moscato d’asti i’ve ever had. genius! it was like fruity pudding and flowers…mmm
Sorry to miss it. Looks like a heck of a lot of fun. Good wines, and of course fantastic people. But Boston-San Diego is not lightly undertaken, alas. I’ll have to console myself with $5.99/lb lobster…a very pinchy and bruise-inducing drowning of my sorrows. Before I drown the lobsters… ;-)
I like this post, too!
I’m really glad you made it to visit Aldo, pal. I’m still waitin’ for more details….
Does anyone represent Vajra in Texas? I’ve never seen the wines but I hear they’re outstanding, especially the moscato.
David, what do you want to know? The wines rocked. Seriously, do you need more? Buy the whole lineup. If you cherry-pick, I’m stopping by on my way to the Shore and kicking your ass. Seriously. ;-)
Damn, Thor, you’re such a bully! ;-)
I know the wines oh so well and love them even more. Just wanted to know what you guys got to taste, how you enjoyed the visit, etc.