Luigi Pira - Barolo Serralunga DOCG 2021

Garnet red in color, with aromas of cherry, forest floor, and spices. Young and energetic, with taut red fruit, fresh acidity, and firm, grainy tannins. Powerful and full of character, with a long finish.

Garnet red in color, with aromas of cherry, forest floor, and spices. Young and energetic, with crisp red fruit, fresh acidity, and firm, grainy tannins. Powerful and full of character, with a long finish.

From the terrace of winemaker Gianpaolo Pira, you look out over two historic crus of Serralunga d'Alba: Marenca and Margheria, from which he makes his Barolos. A little further on, the slope of the legendary Vigna Rionda is also visible, a world-famous vineyard from which Pira also produces a Barolo.

The winery is named after founder Luigi Pira, who passed away in 2021. For decades, he grew grapes in and around Serralunga, which he sold to the large wine houses of Alba. In the eighties, he began bottling under his own label, with quality as his top priority. In the early nineties, his son Gianpaolo continued that trajectory, with drinkability and even higher quality as focal points. In addition to being a winemaker, he is an avid (white) truffle hunter, a good friend, and the figurehead of the company. He runs the cellar, while his brothers Romolo and Claudio are generally found in the fields.

Pira produces a classic, high-quality line of Piedmontese red wines, and the Barolos are its calling card: wines with character that reflect the family’s Serralunghese roots. The working method is fairly modern. For the Barolo Vigna Rionda and the Barolo Marenca, both small and large oak barrels are used, while the other Barolos mature exclusively in large barrels (botti). At Pira, they pay close attention to what the grape needs to create the best possible Barolo, which allows its origin to be tasted as accurately as possible.

The result is wines full of character, depth, and structure, where every glass is a voyage of discovery. Just like the Piedmontese people, Pira’s Barolos need some time to open up. So, let the wine swirl in the glass for a while, and you will be doubly rewarded with a wine that stands as firm as a house.

A Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba, composed of grapes from various plots within the municipality. The blend combines, among others, Margheria, Marenca, Rivetti, and Sorano, giving the wine the typical structure of Serralunga.

Traditionally fermented and subsequently aged for 24 months in large wooden barrels (botte grande). This classic maturation process allows the powerful tannins to gradually refine and keeps the influence of the wood subtle.

A young, firmly structured Barolo that still needs time to fully come into its own. Delicious to drink from approximately 2026 and can certainly be cellared for 10–15 years after the harvest.