This illustrious estate was originally bought by the first King of Italy in 1858, and then shaped into the world’s top Barolo brand by his son, Emanuele Alberto Guerrieri, Count of Mirafiore, hence the name Casa E di Mirafiore. Sadly the estate did not survive the Great Depression and was split up by various creditors. It was eighty years later that the well-known and widely respected entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti embarked on a journey to restore Casa E di Mirafiore to its full glory.

Firstly, he reallocated the original 25 hectares of prime vineyards and historic cellars from Fontanafredda, his other winery. Then, in 2011 Farinetti managed to buy back the Casa E di Mirafiore brand name which had been purchased by a third party. This was not without a price! – it cost him his lunch, as the owner understood the historical importance at stake. Since then, numerous investments and improvements have been made in the estate, not least converting to organic in 2018. Sustainability is at the forefront of the Mirafiore ethos, with fuel for tractors now running biofuel since 2019.

As you draw closer to the estate, your eyes are drawn to the bold blue and yellow hues of each of the properties, painted to match the traditional colours of the king`s stripes. Farming on two distinct vineyard sites, Lazzarito and Paiagallo, the wines are increasingly gaining recognition for their Serralunga power and rich, seductive fruit characteristics, combined with a distinct freshness, largely driven by the pure winemaking style with minimal intervention. The “cru” wines from Lazzarito and Paiagallo in particular –  grown on limestone calcareous soils formed some 13 million years ago – are powerful yet harmoniously balanced by vibrant acidity, creating stunning ageing potential.

Without doubt historically proven excellence well on the way to realising its truly great potential.