2017
De Baroloboys
On an October evening in late 2017, a group of boys met for casual drinks. Some of them already knew each other; others were meeting for the first time. As the evening unfolded, they discovered a shared passion: wine, great food, and Italy. That very night, they planned their first wine trip to Barolo. Just a week later, the first journey became a reality.
Since then, Loewie, Bram, Mathijs, and Dick have made it an annual tradition to visit a wide range of wineries throughout the region.
A glimpse of the estates they’ve already visited includes: Ceretto, Marziano Abbona, Ca’Viola, Marchesi di Grésy, La Ballerina, Montaribaldi, Fratelli Rabino, Marchesi Alfieri, Scagliola Sansi, Braida, Coppo, Michele Chiarlo, Luigi Einaudi, Oddero, Josetta Saffirio, Roberto Sarotto, Damilano, G.D. Vajra, Piero Busso, Contratto, Culasso, Francesco Borgogno, Serio & Battista Borgogno, Luigi Pira, Vietti, Azelia, Ca’ del Baio, Ruggeri Corsini, Silvio Grasso, Giacomo Fenocchio, Elio Grasso, Marrone.
2023
Founding of VAIVAI
After years of trips through Piedmont, the four friends shared a clear ambition: to bring authentic, high-quality wines from small producers to the Netherlands. Wines with character, craftsmanship, and consistency, at a price that still makes sense. Not labels made in boardrooms, but bottles born in vineyards.
“Vai” means “go” in Italian and for de Baroloboys, it marked the exact moment they said let’s do this. The green light. The leap. The start of creating and sharing their own wine and label: VAIVAI.
VAIVAI represents Italian quality wines with soul: handcrafted by small, family-run winemakers and shared by friends bound by a deep love for Italy, its culture, and its wines. Honest bottles, real stories, and wines meant to be opened together.
2023
VAIVAI Barbera d'Asti DOCG
The very first VAIVAI release is the Barbera d’Asti 2021, created in collaboration with Gianni Bianco of La Ballerina. Without his trust in de Baroloboys, VAIVAI would never have existed. This wine marks the beginning of the journey and the friendship behind it.
The VAIVAI Barbera d’Asti is a vibrant, unoaked red wine that celebrates purity and freshness. Made to express the grape and the terroir without interference, it shows lively acidity, juicy dark-red fruit, and a subtle touch of spice. Smooth, energetic, and effortlessly drinkable. It’s a wine that shines at the table and invites the next glass.
2024
VAIVAI Spumante Brut
Gianni Bianco is a true master of Barbera, perhaps one of the finest in the world. But from the very first moment de Baroloboys met him in 2017, another wine captured their hearts: Spumante Brut from Montegrosso d’Asti.
This elegant sparkling wine is made from a refined blend of Cortese, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Fresh, vibrant, and beautifully balanced, it offers crisp citrus notes, delicate white flowers, and a subtle touch of orchard fruit. Lively bubbles and bright acidity give it a clean, refreshing finish, making it a perfect aperitivo and a natural companion at the table.
2025
Partner Wines
De Baroloboys collaborate with select producers from renowned wine regions, most notably Barolo, but also Provence and Champagne.
2025
VAIVAI Barbera d'Asti "Limited" DOCG
In early 2025, de Baroloboys were given the opportunity to bottle the same Barbera d’Asti DOCG, this time aged for three years in oak. What began as a one-off, limited batch is set to evolve into a fully fledged, own-label wine in 2026. Until then, it is released as a Limited Edition, reflecting its small production and exclusive availability in 2025.
This oak-aged Barbera d’Asti DOCG shows a deeper, more layered expression of the grape. Ripe dark cherries and blackberries are complemented by notes of vanilla, warm spice, cocoa, and a subtle touch of tobacco. The natural freshness of Barbera keeps the wine vibrant and balanced, while the extended oak ageing adds structure, depth, and a long, elegant finish.
