E. Pira (Chiara Boschis) Barolo ‘Mosconi’ 2017

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Chiara Boschis’s 2017 Barolos are among the most succesful wines of the vintage.

Antonio Galloni

About E. Pira (Chiara Boschis)

Chiara Boschis shares her thoughts during harvest (starting from 5min 10s).

Chiara Boschis is widely recognized as one of the first women producers in Barolo, though her family has a long history (nine generations) of winemaking. In 1980, the Boschis family (of Giacomo Borgogno e Figli) acquired the E. Pira & Figli estate, procuring some of the most prestigious land in Barolo. After graduating, Chiara became involved full-time in the family business, following her own great passion for the world of wine. As the only woman in a group of young winemakers credited with revolutionizing the area’s winemaking in the 1980’s, Chiara affectionately became known as the “Barolo Girl.” Chiara officially took the reins in 1990, bringing her unique combination of dedication, charm, patience and determination to every aspect of production in order to raise the quality and image of the winery to that which it enjoys today. In 2010, Chiara’s younger brother Giorgio joined her, contributing 30 plus years of experience both in the vineyards and cellar.

Chiara is an artisan grower, whose philosophy is to craft wines that combine the extraordinary power of Barolo with approachability, balance, intense aromatics, and elegance. This equilibrium is achieved through strict vineyard management (all work is carried out manually), careful selection, organic farming practices and meticulous vinification techniques that favor a gentle touch, allowing the grapes to express their true character. Chiara is a farmer first. She then unites the best of traditional and modern winemaking techniques in a continuous endeavor to consistently produce high quality wines representative of their heritage.

“It was a very exciting time when I started. This group of friends and I, the “Barolo”boys,” as they are called now were always exchanging suggestions and ideas. We wanted to make Barolo the best we could. I remember in 1994, Giorgio (Rivetti) and I went around at night to green harvest, so that the neighbors wouldn’t see how many bunches we were cutting. When my father saw the result the next day, he said I was throwing away money, he was traditional and didn’t understand. But you know, I think, when you want to do something completely different, you have to do it your own way.”

Chiara Boschis

In the Vineyard

The 2017 Vintage at E. Pira

Chiara Boschis’s 2017 Barolos are among the most succesful wines of the vintage. In 2017, the Cannubi and Mosconi are especially fine, but it has gotten very hard to choose here. Boschis was among the growers who credited anti-hail netting as having the added benefit of protecting fruit from intense heat and light. In recent years, Boschis has settled comfortably into a style that takes the best elements of both traditional and more modern approaches. The wines are aged in a combination of cask and smaller neutral French oak, with a preference for cask for the more delicate wines of Barolo and smaller barrels for the firmer wines of Monforte and Serralunga. “Our most significant work in recent years has been changes in pruning to give the fruit a bit more cover from the sun, which is much stronger than in the past,” Boschis told me.

Galloni

Where in the World is E. Pira (Chiara Boschis)?