The Pira family had been winemakers for generations. But when Luigi Pira died in 1980, there was no one to carry the family torch.
Fortunately, old family friends, the Boschis, stepped in and bought the estate. And in 1990, young Chiara Boschis took the reins. Despite having earned an economics degree, she decided she’d rather turn her hand to making wine. So she sought out an apprenticeship, and landed at Borgogno, one of the region’s most historic names.
She arrived at the “new” family estate in 1990 with a vision: to make Barolos that show the Nebbiolo grape’s power and ageability, but are drinkable from an earlier stage. And she does this with aplomb. She has a lightness of touch that’s unparalleled in the region: she’s one of the most precise winemakers we know.
She was the first producer in the Cannubi cru (or plot) to convert to organic winemaking. But such is her drive and confidence, she didn’t stop there: she went on to convince 21 of the other 26 growers that share the cru to become organic, too.
She’s now joined by her brother, who’s also worked at Borgogno, and together they make just 12,000 bottles a year. These are intense yet elegant Barolos that have to be tried to be believed.