Casa Raia

Casa Raia is a certified organic Tuscan farm, located on a promontory adjacent to the famous medieval town of Montalcino.

Casa Raia: love and respect for the Terroir

The Azienda Agricola Casa Raia was founded in 2006, thanks to the winemaker Pierre Jean Monnoyer who restored the vineyards with unparalleled respect for the land.

He started with just one hectare of Sangiovese Grosso, an old vineyard planted in 1975: “La Vigna Scarnacuoia.” From the very beginning, Casa Raia has focused all its efforts on producing natural wines as an expression of their deep commitment to quality.

Casa Raia spans 4.5 hectares of vineyards. The oldest vines date back 44 years, including the only hectare from which they produce Brunello. The winery's goal is to maintain biodiversity and the natural balance of the ecosystem, which is why in the autumn the soil is worked in a minimally invasive manner and sown with varieties of organic plants and flowers that provide natural nourishment to the land. Since 2009 the estate has obtained organic certification.

Casa Raia: natural and organic wine

Throughout its entire production chain, Casa Raia follows its philosophy of natural and organic processing, without the use of any pesticides or herbicides and with full respect for the land.

The training system for the vines is spurred cordon, four spurs per trunk, and double cordon, six spurs per trunk. All of this is achieved through short pruning to two buds according to the lunar cycles, following its descending path for fourteen days.
Furthermore, Casa Raia cultivates and hand harvests, taking care not to damage the clusters, and every tool is thoroughly inspected and cleaned before arriving at the winery.

In the cellar, a destemmer is used to allow the grapes to fall by gravity into a French oak vat where the must rests for a few days before beginning a natural fermentation on the skins that will release color and phenolic substances. After the first phase of winemaking, the spontaneous fermentation, everything is moved to the press through a dense filter that will prevent any impurities from compromising the quality of the wine. The wine is then transferred into Taransaud French oak vats in an underground cellar where humidity is maintained through openings in the floor under the barrels. During the following spring, the wines undergo natural malolactic fermentation which helps reduce acidity.

The aging process is diligently monitored through natural evaporation. The wine in these barrels rests undisturbed for four years, allowing for natural decantation without filtration. The different blends are made at the bottling stage. The barrels used for aging are made of hard, impermeable oak that promotes the development of noble aromas and delicate flavors.

The vineyards of Casa Raia, being located on a promontory 375 meters above sea level, are not subject to autumn fogs or frosts. This allows for a predominantly mild climate which, during the vegetative phase of the vines, ensures a gradual and complete ripening of the clusters.

Thanks to the careful processing and deep respect for the Terroir, Casa Raia offers you an excellent Brunello di Montalcino DOCG: a wine recognized and awarded by The Wine Hunter Awards.