Vaira Aurelj is a boutique winery located in Vergne, between Barolo, La Morra, and Narzole in Piedmont. Founded by brothers Francesco and Giacomo Vaira, the winery is rooted in a deep family passion for vines and winemaking—passed down from their late father, who died over 20 years ago. To honour his memory, they named the estate after him: Aurelio. Choosing the local dialect, they spelled it “Aurelj”, keeping his spirit alive in every bottle. Today, the family estate comprises 4.35 hectares of vineyards, situated at an altitude of around 450 meters. The favorable southeast and southwest exposures combines with limestone and clay-rich soils to create an ideal environment for cultivating Nebbiolo.
Their philosophy is simple: they believe that the quality of a wine starts with the work done in the vineyard. The brothers personally oversee all aspects of production, from manual labor to tractor-assisted tasks. Their approach is sustainable and respectful, focusing on cover crops and using copper and sulfur while avoiding pesticides and other chemicals. They also do not rely on seasonal workers or subcontractors.
Vaira Aurelj produces three cuvées: Controcorrente: An eccentric wine made from a rosé mutant of Nebbiolo. Fuori Zona: Crafted from Nebbiolo grown just outside the Barolo DOCG boundary. Barolo Fossati: A classic expression of Nebbiolo.
Except for Controcorrente, which includes 10-20% whole cluster, the grapes are destemmed but not crushed. They undergo fermentation for 2-3 weeks in stainless steel tanks with native pied de cuve yeast, utilizing punch-downs and pump-overs. The wines are then lightly pressed, returned to tank for malolactic fermentation, and aged for 12-18months in used barrels before being bottled, unfined and unfiltered, with only minimal SO2 added.
