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Mirafiore's story parallels that of Sleeping Beauty; a regal beginning, a long slumber, and an awakening by a "prince" to live happily ever after.
Founded in 1878 by Italy's Royal Family, the Mirafiore winery is the estate that gave Barolo its famed nickname: "The King of Wines, the Wine of Kings." It is named after Emanuele Alberto Guerrieri di Mirafiori, the son of King Vittorio Emanuele II, the first monarch to rule after Italy's unification and the first to make wine on what would become the E. Mirafiore estate. The King bequeathed the property to Emanuele, who turned out to be a talented and industrious entrepreneur. He built a village at Fontanafredda, principally for his employees and set about embracing modern techniques as early as 1887 when his property was the first to use concrete barrels in Europe. By 1890, Guerrieri's wines were exported internationally, and his reputation had become synonymous with quality and consistency. Following Guerrieri's death, the next generation did not match his passion or unique talents, though the scourge of
phylloxera and the Great Depression aided in Mirafiore's descent into bankruptcy in 1929. Gancia di Canelli purchased the estate and Mirafiore essentially disappeared until 2008 when Oscar Farinetti, the prince in this story, purchased the brand, having already purchased the estate, and set upon a mission to create cru barolo. Certified organic since 2018, Mirafiore sources its fruit from estate-owned vineyards primarily in the Serralunga d'Alba commune. The estate also owns rows of vines in two of Barolo's most famous crus, Lazzarito and Paiagallo. We caught up with winemaker Andrea Conti and area export manager Chiara Destefanis, to talk about its modern-day comeback, the estate, and some of the Mirafiore labels arriving in Canada this spring. We've included availability and pricing for British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, below.
More on Barolo:
"Barolo's Evolution", Feb, 17, 2022, by Anthony Gismondi
BRITISH COLUMBIA
BCL Stores:
Just released at press time : Mirafiore Barolo 2016 for $69.99
Mirafiore Barolo Riserva DOCG - 750ml x 6
CASCADIA FINE WINE, SPIRITS AND ALES
WEST COAST LIQUOR COMPANY (FRASER ST)
Mirafiore Langhe Nebbiolog DOC - 750ml x 6
NEW DISTRICT WINE BEER SPIRITS
SPINNAKERS BEER & WINE MERCHANTS
LIBERTY WINE MERCHANTS (NORTH VANCOUVER)
CASCADIA FINE WINE, SPIRITS AND ALES
QUEBEC SAQ:
ONTARIO: LCBO
