The Rossi Cairo family bought la Raia in 2003 with the aim of recovering and enhancing the original ecosystem alongside biodynamic principles. The first land they acquired is found in the hills of Gavi, South Piedmont. Giorgio Rossi Cairo, Tenementi Rossi Cairo’s founder, explains that it was his children that put forward the idea of taking an organic approach to agriculture, which eventually would be incorporated into all 180 hectares of their land.
wine producer
La Raia
Region: Piemonte
History
Since then, The Rossi Cairo family have extended their projects on La Raia’s estate. They have created various initiatives encompassing their family ideology such as: a Wardolf school run by Giorgio’s daughter, Caterina; PortaNatura, devoted to the production, sale and home delivery of organic goods and, Borgo Merlassino and Locanda La Raia, centered in the hospitality and the agritourism sector.
In 2015, they acquired Tenuta Cucco, another organic estate in Serralunga d’Alba which forms part of Tenementi Rossi Cairo.
Estate
La Raia, located in the heart of the Gavi hills, is a winery centred in biodynamic wine production located at the heart of the Gavi hills. The estate extends over 180 hectares of which 48 are vineyards. The rest are fields, pastures, chestnut, elderflower, and acacia woodland.
Their 48 hectares of vineyards, comprised of Cortese and Barbera, contain approximately 4,500 plants per hectare, growing in limestone clay soil. Their white wines, Gavi DOCG Riserva and Gavi DOCG Pisé, are made from their oldest Cortese vines in the Madonnina vineyards and La Cascinetta respectively.
Today, La Raia produces three kinds of award winning Gavi D.O.C.G.: Gavi, Gavi Riserva Vigna della Madonnina and Gavi Pisé ('Pisé is an antique construction technique employed in the building of their cellar) and two kinds of Piemonte D.O.C. Barbera.