Domenico Clerico, Barolo `Pajana`

Domenico Clerico’s legacy is remarkable and his impact on Langhe winemaking was significant. He and a small group of other producers were part of the Barolo renaissance of the late 1970s and early 1980s, taking this denomination from relative obscurity to what it is today: a unique territory consistently producing some of the world’s best wines.

Along with hard work and the desire to experiment, Domenico understood early on that careful viticulture was the key to excellence. He quickly recognised the value and potential of his vineyards; “My objective as a winegrower is to highlight the potential of our territory. Every vineyard here (in Barolo) has its own character and I want to express it in my wines”.

As is often the case in Barolo, the Clerico family used to sell the grapes from their five-hectare farm to the local cooperatives. When Domenico and his wife Giuliana took over the family business in 1976, they began estate bottling, taking inspiration from France with a strict focus on the vineyards and careful winemaking. In 1977 they purchased a small plot of land in the heart of Bussia, then expanded in Monforte d’Alba with the acquisition of a plot in the Ginestra vineyard in 1981, Pajana in 1990 and Mosconi in 1995. In 2006 they started farming a vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba from which they produce the Aeroplanservaj. Today, Clerico owns a total of 21 hectares.

Domenico was not afraid to experiment in the cellar in pursuit of progress, and throughout his life he made many changes in his winemaking. Eventually he settled for less prominent oak and 20- to 25-day macerations to capture the unique sense of place of the different vineyards.

Following Domenico’s premature death in 2017 and the departure of winemaker Oscar Arrivabene in 2025, the estate is now run by his wife Giuliana Viberti Clerico, with the support of her niece Cecilia, nephew Orlando and consultant winemaker Gianmatteo Raineri.

The ‘Visadi’ Langhe Dolcetto, fermented only in stainless steel, is fresh and crisp with aromas of bright red fruits. The ‘Trevigne’ Barbera d’Alba has a perfect combination of acidity, fruit and body with aromas of dark fruits and peppery notes.

The grapes for the Barolo di Monforte d’Alba are sourced from the plots in Ginestra, Mosconi and Bussia. The wine delivers exceptional fruity, spicy and floral aromas with sweet silky tannins that lead to a rich, persistent finish.

The ‘Pajana’ and ‘Ciabot Mentin’ are two expressions of Ginestra, a ridge just outside Monforte which descends into the valley that separates Monforte from Serralunga. ‘Aeroplanservaj’ (which translates as ‘wild aeroplane’ - a nickname Domenico’s father gave him) comes from a plot in Serralunga d’Alba and, like the Barolo di Monforte d’Alba, ‘Pajana’ and ‘Ciabot Mentin’, ages for at least 20 months in a combination of French oak barriques and Slavonian oak casks. The nose offers elegant floral notes of roses and violets. Domenico could not choose between the artwork options for his ‘Aeroplanservaj’, so he decided to use them all. As a result, each case includes all six variations, with a different front label on each bottle.