La Raia

La Raia is one of the most famous wineries in the Gavi production area. The Rossi Cairo family bought the first land in this hilly area of lower Piedmont, which rises gently toward the mountainous reliefs of the Ligurian Apennines. The project was born out of a desire to produce healthy, genuine wines in an area that has always had a vocation for the cultivation of vines, particularly the native white cortese grape variety. The farm includes vineyards, arable land, large wooded areas and a number of 19th-century farmhouses, one of which has been restored and transformed into a welcoming accommodation facility. During 2017, Locanda la Raia, a refined Boutique Hotel immersed in the greenery and quiet of an unspoiled landscape, was also opened. Finally, in 2013, the estate was also enriched by the La Raia Foundation, which works to promote the art and culture of the area.
The property covers a total of 180 hectares, about 50 of which are devoted to viticulture and the rest to arable land or pastures or wooded areas, which ensure great environmental biodiversity. The estate is managed with the utmost respect for nature, follows the principles of biodynamics and has been Demeter certified since 2007. A philosophy based on the belief that the land should be handed over to future generations intact. Biodynamic cultivation aims to strengthen the plant's natural defenses and thus their ability to better react to attacks by mold and other diseases. The vine thus develops a better balance with the environment and greater resilience, which also leads it to naturally find a productive and vegetative balance, without the need for too many external interventions. The rows are grassed and green manure is practiced with legumes and cereals, which are then mowed and buried to create humus and make the soil more fertile without having to resort to other fertilizers.

Treatments in the vineyard are limited to the use of sulfur, copper, horn manure, cornosilica and other biodynamic preparations, used by the dynamization method. The Cortese vines are planted in an area characterized by limestone-clay soils with red earth veins. Barbera vines, on the other hand, are planted in the sunniest area, with a south-facing exposure. Attention to the environment does not end with the adoption of biodynamic practices. The winery has also chosen the path of environmental sustainability when it comes to the cellar, which has been equipped with photovoltaic panels, making it autonomous in terms of electricity production. The end result is a range of excellent wines.