WINERY Located in Piedmont in northwestern Italy, the GAJA winery is widely considered to be one of the greatest estates in the world, producing coveted and collectible labels.

WINE The first Chardonnay planted in Piemonte and first Italian white wined aged in barriques, Gaia & Rey was named by Angelo after his first daughter, Gaia, and Grandmother Clotilde Rey.

Gaia&Rey is produced from two separated vineyards in the Langhe district: one vineyard planted in 1979 in Treiso and the other in Serralunga d’Alba planted in 1989.

The 2022 season was tough for Langhe due to a severe drought from November 2021 to September 2022. The rainfall was only 300 mm in Barbaresco and a bit more in Barolo, much less than the usual 800 to 1200 mm in Piedmont. After light snow on December 8th, the area had no rain for 113 days which delayed the buds until after March 30th. April was still dry, but a good rain in May helped the formation of grape bunches. June and July were very hot. To help the vines, some green grapes were removed in July. This allowed the rest to fully mature. Rain on August 7th and 17th saved the season by cooling the weather and relieving the vines. September was warm until the 15th, after which it cooled down. Harvest started with the white grapes on August 19th and ended with Nebbiolo on October 9th, one of the earliest we’ve seen. The season is similar to 2003, which turned out excellent after the wines had aged in the bottle.

Stainless steel fermentation and ageing in stainless steel and oak for 6 months.

Gaia&Rey 2022 has a golden hue with a hint of green. It has citrus notes including bergamot and lemongrass, plus cedar and apricot, mango, and mangosteen. There’s also an intense bouquet with white flowers, acacia, orange blossom, and a hint of smokiness. The full-bodied experience has a savory, salty richness. The finish is fresh, and balanced and leaves a fruity-mineral impression.