VIRNA BORGOGNO
Piedmonte
The estate of Virna, owned for over a century by the Borgogno family, is situated in Barolo at the center of the Langhe. Virna today extends over 12 hectares of some of the most important crus in Barolo: Cannubi Boschis, Preda, Sarmassa, I Merli, San Giovanni, and Costa delle Rose. Virna Borgogno, having a rich family history with wine, and some of the finest vineyards in Barolo, began bottling under her own name decades ago. Her winery sits at the foot of the Cannubi Boschis hill, which marks the dividing line between two different types of soil. The Tortonian soil to the north and west (La Morra) is generally more compact marl mixed with sand, producing elegant, softer wines that are more approachable in their youth. The Helvetian soils, with loose, less fertile sandstone and limestone rich marl, are to the south and east (Serraglunga). Cannubi means “union” in dialect, and refers to the meeting of these two distinctive soil types.
From her own vineyards on Cannubi Boschis and others around Barolo, Virna creates magnificent wines, primarily from the Nebbiolo grape. Her Barolos are long lived, structured wines that should be appreciated throughout their long lives. Virna herself is the very epitome of the Italian winemaker; her wines are all about the land, the history, and the traditions of her ancestors. She is the first woman in Italy to have received her degree in Winemaking Technique (Enologica Tecnica) from the University of Turin.
Virna Borgogno Wines
Virna Barolo Noi
91 points from the Wine Advocate for the 2015 vintage: The Virna 2015 Barolo Noi shows dark ripeness and saturated fruit that is characteristics of this hot vintage. This wine is built with thick lines and lots of dark blackberry fruit packed tight at its core. The tannins are firm and evident and also underline the heat and dryness of the summer season in 2015. The fruit is slightly vinous and raw. A year or two in the cellar would do it good, or else pair it in the near-term with baby back ribs. The Barolo Noi is a blend of Nebbiolo from various townships, including Monforte d’Alba (the San Giovanni vineyard), La Morra (Berri and Boiolo), Verduno (Castagni) and Novello (Cerviano-Merli and Sottocastello di Novello). (ML)
Virna Barolo Di Barolo
The different soils, exposures and microclimates of the Preda and Sarmassa vineyards combine to produce a well-balanced, harmonious wine packed with the fresh, elegant aromas supplied by La Preda, and the full body and structure catered for by Sarmassa. This wine is made from the Nebbiolo clones of Lampia and Michet. This wine is the same as the 2006 Preda Sarmassa. It recently became illegal to put two vineyard names on the label. You can now only have a vineyard name on the wine label if the fruit is 100% single vineyard. This is why this wine is now labeled “Barolo di Barolo.”
Virna Barolo Cannubi
Cannubi is arguably the most historic vineyard in Barolo, and this wine comes from the Cannubi Boschis hill, which is special because it combines the noted limestone soils of the rest of Cannubi with a healthy dose of sand. This
soil makeup, along with lower altitude and cooler temperatures, courtesy of the proximity to the Alba and Tanaro Rivers, combine to produce a wine that has both elegnace and richness. This wine is made from the Nebbiolo clone
Lampia.
Virna Nebbiolo D’Alba
Located in the township of Barolo, in the center of the Langhe, the Azienda Agricola Virna, also known under the label Borgognot, has been in the property of the Borgogno family since 1720. Ludovico Borgogno, the current member of the family, has recently renamed the Azienda to honor his daughter and winemaker Virna.
Virna Barbera D’Alba
The Borgogno family has owned vineyards in Barolo since 1720, and have always attached particular importance to the work carried out in the vineyards and the selection of only the best grapes. The Virna label was created in 2001, when Virna Borgogno became proprietor of her family’s estate. Today the estate stretches out over an area of around 12 hectares, producing wines from grapes grown on its own vineyards located in historic crus in the Barolo wine-making area. Though the wines are from different crus, each one represents the heritage and tradition of the Barolo region.