From the terrace of winemaker Gianpaolo Pira, you have a magnificent view over two historic Serralunga crus, from which Pira crafts his Barolo Marenca and Margheria. A little further on, the slope of the legendary cru Vigna Rionda is visible—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 in Alba until he began bottling under his own label in the 1980s, placing quality at the forefront. In the early nineties, his son Gianpaolo continued this approach, with "drinkability" and even higher quality as his main focus.
Under his own label, Pira produces a classic and high-quality Piedmontese line of red wines. In addition to being a winemaker, Gianpaolo is a fervent (white) truffle hunter, a good friend, and the face of the company. He runs the cellar, while his brothers Romolo and Claudio are generally found working the land.
Pira's Barolos are a guarantee of 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 assess what the grape needs to produce 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. Much like the Piedmontese people, Pira’s Barolos need a little time to open up and show their best side. But as soon as the wine has been swirled in your glass for a while, you are doubly rewarded with a wine that stands like a house.
