Luigi Baudana Dragon Bianco Langhe DOC

The grapes were hand harvested and then carefully sorted. The fruit underwent a whole cluster gentle pressing with a pneumatic press. Fermentation took place over 12-15 days in 50 to 70 hectolitre vertical stainless-steel vats at controlled low temperatures. The wine was kept on fine lees to avoid oxidation throughout the winter.

Luigi Baudana is a small estate with just over four hectares of vineyard, all in the commune of Serralunga d‘Alba. Their tiny cellar is situated in the village of Baudana, while their vineyards are primarily in the ‘crus’ of Baudana and Cerretta. After 30 years of running the winery, and without heirs to take over the business, Luigi and Fiorina Baudana made the difficult decision to sell. Owing to the location of the vineyards, in the heart of the ‘golden mile’ of Barolo, Luigi and Fiorina were offered some eye-watering sums of money but wished for the name and estate to continue as is rather than be absorbed into a larger entity.

As part of his research, Luigi visited the Vajra winery incognito one day. He was so impressed with the estate and philosophy that he rang Aldo soon afterwards to ask if he would be interested in buying the estate. A deal was struck and the Vajra family have run this estate alongside Luigi and Fiorina ever since. We have tasted the wines every year and watched them improve. The depth of flavour and intensity that comes from the vineyards has remained, but the Vajra touch in the cellar has brought them to a new level.

Their ‘Dragon’ Langhe Bianco is a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon (planted in the north-eastern part of Cerretta by Luigi in the early 1980s) with Nascetta and Riesling from the Vajra vineyards. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel, showing a lovely lift and depth with real interest on the palate.