About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Pira is a historic vineyard in Castiglione Falletto, the most central of the eleven municipalities in the Barolo production zone. Roagna purchased it in 1989 and is the sole owner of the geographical mention. The south-east-facing site lies on the Serralunga and Perno slope and was formed through the breakdown of the Rocche di Castiglione.
The seven hectares under vine are protected uphill by the Rocche di Castiglione and downhill by four hectares of woodland; a stream descends from Bussia di Monforte. The marine-sedimentary soils date from the Helvetian era of the Tertiary period and comprise alternating layers of white limestone, grey marl, blue marl and sand, with minerals including iron. Six micro-parcels have been identified, differing in vine age and soil composition, from limestone rock to bluish marl.
Grapes
Nebbiolo from vines over 25 years old. All vines are of massal origin, propagated with wood collected while pruning old Pira vines. Nebbiolo is the principal variety planted at Pira; Barbera and Chardonnay also grow in the vineyard but are not identified as components of this wine. The vineyard’s oldest planting dates to 1937.
Vinification
Harvest takes place by hand into small crates when physiological maturity is reached, judged through seed ripeness. Two manual selections precede vinification. Fermentation occurs exclusively in wooden vats, initiated with a pied de cuve made from indigenous yeasts, and continues for about ten days. Traditional submerged-cap maceration then lasts approximately 60–70 days.
Ageing
Approximately five years in neutral oak and concrete vats.
Vintage notes
The vintages represented are 1990–2005 and 2007–2019.
Label / history
Centuries ago, Pira belonged first to the aristocratic Falletti family and later to Zocha, now called Zotta, and was linked directly to the castle by a private road.
