From the terrace of winemaker Gianpaolo Pira, you have a magnificent view over two historic crus of Serralunga, where Pira produces his Barolo Marenca and Margheria. A little further on, you can also see the slope of the legendary cru Vigna Rionda, another (in this case world-famous) vineyard from which Pira produces a Barolo.
Founder, namesake, and father Luigi Pira, who sadly passed away in 2021, had been growing grapes in and around Serralunga for decades. These were sold to the large wine houses of Alba until he began bottling under his own label in the 1980s, prioritizing quality above all else. In the early 1990s, his son Gianpaolo continued this approach, with "drinkability" and even higher quality as his main focus.
Under his own label, Pira creates a classic, high-quality Piedmontese line of red wines. Besides being a winemaker, Gianpaolo is an avid (white) truffle hunter, a good friend, and the figurehead of the company. He runs the show in the cellar, while his brothers, Romolo and Claudio, are generally to be found in the vineyards.
Pira's Barolos guarantee quality and character. They are a reflection of the Pira family's Serralunghese roots.
Pira works in a fairly modern way and uses both small and large oak barrels to age his Barolo Vigna Rionda and Marenca. The other Barolos are aged exclusively in large barrels (botti). At Pira, they carefully consider what the grape needs to create the best possible Barolo, one that reflects its origin as accurately as possible.
As mentioned, these are wines full of character, depth, and structure: every glass is a voyage of discovery. Like the people of Piedmont, Pira's Barolos need a little time to open up and show their best side. But once the wine has swirled in your glass for a while, you are doubly rewarded with a wine that stands like a house.
