To my mind Vajra is one of the greatest producers in Piedmont creating soulful wines year in and year out. Based in the village of Barolo, Vajra has been chaired by Aldo Vajra since 1968 when he took over the family property at the age of 15. He has maintained a remarkable balancing act between tradition and innovation that I greatly admire. The farm has been certified organic since 1971 (the first in the region) and has always worked in a traditional style: Long macerations with extended aging in big, neutral Slavonian botti. G.D. Vajra Baroli simultaneously long lived and open knit most years and frankly are quite delicious.

Vajra’s Moscato is a lovely expression of the grape. Fruity, floral, and delicately sparkling it has dicernible sweetness but is never cloying. For anyone who has written off Moscato because of the many industrial examples on the market, this bottle is well worth trying for an after dinner pairing. Try it with almond cookies, fruit based desserts, short bread, merinque/Pavlova, or all on its own! – Andy Paynter