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, you can also see the slope of the legendary Vigna Rionda cru, another (and 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 major wine houses in Alba until he began bottling under his own label in the 1980s, placing quality at the forefront. In the early 1990s, his son Gianpaolo continued this approach, with "drinkability" and even higher quality as key priorities.
Pira produces a classic, high-quality Piedmontese line of red wines under his own label. In addition to being a winemaker, Gianpaolo is an avid (white) truffle hunter, a good friend, and the face of the company. He runs the show in the cellar, while his brothers Romolo and Claudio are generally to be found in the fields.
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 reasonably 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 pay close attention to 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 journey of discovery. Much 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 been swirled in your glass for a while, you are doubly rewarded with a wine that stands as firm as a rock.
