At the heart of Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne reveals all the elegance, depth and complexity of Tuscan wines. As Italy's first entirely female-run wine estate, it combines qualitative excellence, exceptional terroir and a pioneering philosophy.
The refined expression of Tuscan wines
Brunello di Montalcino: the elegance and complexity of an age-worthy wine
Brunello di Montalcino embodies the true soul of the estate. Born exclusively from sangiovese grapes selected with absolute rigour, this wine sublimates Tuscan elegance and complexity. Its long ageing in oak barrels gives it a silky tannic structure and reveals deep aromas of ripe red fruits and delicate spices. An age-worthy wine par excellence, it stands out for its finesse, its controlled power and its remarkable ability to express the unique identity of its terroir of origin.
Rosso di Montalcino: the alliance of freshness and radiant fruity expression
Often considered the younger brother of Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino charms with its immediate freshness and natural vivacity. Crafted from the same noble grape variety, sangiovese, it reveals a radiant fruity expression and beautiful accessibility from its youth, while maintaining a remarkable structure. It constitutes an ideal introduction to the house style, harmoniously marrying the tradition of Montalcino with a modern and appealing expression.
An iconic Tuscan estate
A pioneering figure in pursuit of excellence
The estate's history is intimately linked to its founder, Donatella Cinelli Colombini, heiress to an illustrious line of Tuscan winegrowers. In 1998, she brought to life a revolutionary project: creating Casato Prime Donne, Italy's first wine estate entirely run by women. This bold choice marked local wine history, transforming the property into a symbol of emancipation and excellence.
An emblematic figure of Tuscan viticulture, this visionary pioneer founded Italy's first two entirely female wine estates: Casato Prime Donne and Fattoria del Colle, inaugurated in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Her exceptional talent earned her prestigious distinctions: the Oscar Bibenda prize in 2003, rewarding producers of excellent wines, and the international Vinitaly prize in 2012.
Today, the estate perpetuates this precious heritage while pursuing a constant quest for innovation and excellence.
A bold and pioneering philosophy
Donatella's philosophy rests on three fundamental pillars: the promotion of women in the world of wine, qualitative excellence and wine tourism.
This commitment finds its finest expression in the "Prime Donne" ("First Ladies") project, created in 1998 to celebrate the talent and role of women in the world of wine as in society. It brings together oenologists, sommeliers and journalists around a shared passion. The crowning achievement of this approach: the Casato Prime Donne Prize, which recognises the most inspiring female careers.
The estate does not simply produce great wines: it tells an authentic story. Every decision is guided by respect for heritage and a deep desire to pass it on. This humanistic approach translates into meticulous attention to the smallest details, ensuring that each bottle is the sincere reflection of a passion and ethical commitment.
A precious terroir
Nestled in Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne is an exceptional wine estate specialising in the production of Brunello. The property extends over 40 hectares, of which 17 are devoted to sangiovese vines and the cellars dedicated to the production and ageing of Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino wines.
The vines, planted at an ideal altitude, sink their roots into soils rich in clay and silt. This geological composition favours a slow and progressive maturation of sangiovese, giving the wines a natural elegance, remarkable aromatic complexity and a distinctive minerality that marks the inimitable identity of the wines produced on these remarkable lands.
Its expertise in the vineyard and in the cellar
The winegrowers are all women, as is the winemaker: a unique situation in Italy and an inspiring model for women in the wine sector. The estate favours organic and environmentally friendly viticulture, with exclusively manual harvesting.
In the cellar, the approach proves equally meticulous, combining traditional expertise and modern technologies. In the ageing area, Brunello ages for at least two years in artisanally crafted French oak barrels of 5 to 7 hectolitres, before being racked into barrels of 15 to 40 hectolitres.
It then benefits from a final period of ageing in bottle, essential to its development. Its elegance constitutes its distinctive characteristic: aromas of red fruits of rare finesse as well as exceptional longevity.
