Virna vineyard, Barolo, Piedmont
- The surname Borgogno is a very common one in Barolo and thus it is almost taken for granted that a Borgogno would be involved with wine and that such a wine would be the great Nebbiolo-based red wine of the Langhe region, the most prestigious wine-growing area in Piedmont. Such is the case with Lodovico Borgogno and his daughters Virna and Ivana: descendants of a dynasty that has owned vineyards in Barolo since 1720 and following in the footsteps of Enrico Borgogno, who in 1950 founded the winery and bottled his own wine from 1961 onwards. Borgogno's family live and work on the Virna Estate.
- Today the Virna 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: Cannubi Boschis, Preda Sarmassa, Cerviano Merli and San Giovanni. As well as Barolo itself, the company also produces Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, Langhe Nebbiolo and a blend known simply as Langhe.
- Virna Borgogno represents the latest generation of the Borgogno family and after completing her studies in oenology at the winemaking school in Alba in 1988, she joined her father Lodovico in the running of the family winery; three years later she became the first woman to graduate in winemaking techniques from Turin University.
- In 2001 the company image was given a facelift with the introduction of the Virna logo on the label. This also identified the fact that Virna had become owner and head winemaker and, with her sister Ivana as head of administration, the new look set out to highlight the role played by the women in the company and to emphasis that, behind the wines, there were people investing all their experience and commitment.
When there is plenty of wine, sorrow and worry take wing" - Ovid c.AD8