G. D. Vajra, Langhe DOC (Piedmont, Italy) Riesling 2022

 Having never seen, much less tasted, a Riesling from the Piedmont region of northeastern Italy, I had to have this wine.  I was not disappointed.  It is dry, lean, and crisp with flavors of Granny Smith apples and Meyer lemon with bright, lively acidity.  The Vajra family began planting Riesling vines in 1985.  Half the vine plants were from Geisenheim, twenty-five percent five percent each were from Alsace and Germany’s Pfalz region.   Aldo Vajra has been in charge of the winery since 1968 and with his guidance, the winery was the first in the region to be certified organic.  Francesca Vajra notes on the family’s website that making a Riesling gave her and her brothers, “the  opportunity to fall in love with one of the most fascinating white varieties in the world.”