Casato Prime Donne
カザート・プリメ・ドンネ
Italy's first all-female-run Brunello estate.
Casato Prime Donne is a Brunello di Montalcino estate founded in 1998 by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, celebrated as the first winery in Italy run entirely by women — from the head winemaker to the vineyard team. The 40-hectare organic estate (certified since 2018) sits in the Montalcino hills and produces Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, and the flagship Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, aged traditionally in large oak casks rather than barriques. The estate's 'Prime Donne' selection, first vintaged in 1993, is chosen by an all-female tasting panel that Donatella assembled after noticing that Italy's wine critics were almost exclusively men. Since 2025 the estate holds Gender Equality Certification, and Donatella serves as president of Le Donne del Vino, Italy's association for women in wine.
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Who Is This For?
For wine lovers who value pioneering, women-led winemaking and elegant, traditionally-aged Brunello di Montalcino.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Casato Prime Donne really run entirely by women?
- Yes — since its founding in 1998, every role at the estate, from head winemaker to vineyard workers, has been filled by women, making it the first all-female-staffed winery in Italy.
- What is the "Prime Donne" selection?
- First produced from the 1993 vintage, Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne is chosen through blind tastings by a panel of women wine professionals that Donatella Cinelli Colombini assembled after noting that Italy's wine critics were almost all men.
- Is Casato Prime Donne an organic estate?
- Yes, Casato Prime Donne has been certified organic since 2018 and farms its 40 hectares in the Montalcino hills using sustainable methods.
- How does Casato Prime Donne relate to Fattoria dei Barbi?
- Both estates trace back to the Cinelli Colombini family, but they are independent producers today: Fattoria dei Barbi is run by Donatella's brother Stefano Cinelli Colombini, while Casato Prime Donne is Donatella's own estate, founded after the family properties were divided in 1998.
- What wines does Casato Prime Donne produce?
- The core range is Sangiovese-based: Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, aged traditionally in large oak casks rather than barriques.