Raen
Summary
RAEN is a boutique Sonoma Coast winery founded in 2013 by Carlo and Dante Mondavi, producing small-lot Pinot Noir from three distinct cool-climate vineyards with maritime influence and low yields. The brothers combine their Mondavi winemaking heritage with a commitment to organic farming, native yeast fermentations, and minimal intervention techniques to create site-expressive wines that establish their own identity beyond their grandfather's legacy.
Heritage & Leadership
RAEN (pronounced "rain") was founded in 2013 by brothers Carlo and Dante Mondavi, representing the third generation of the Mondavi family in California winemaking. As grandsons of Robert Mondavi, they established RAEN with a focused vision of producing cool-climate Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. The name RAEN stands for "Research in Agriculture and Enology Naturally," reflecting their commitment to understanding the relationship between farming and winemaking.
Carlo serves as winemaker while Dante focuses on vineyard management, creating a complementary partnership that guides all aspects of production. Prior to founding RAEN, both brothers gained experience working at their father Tim Mondavi's Continuum Estate on Pritchard Hill in Napa Valley, providing them with valuable knowledge in premium wine production. The Mondavi brothers established their independent venture to explore the potential of coastal Pinot Noir, deliberately choosing a different path from their family's historical focus on Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vineyards & Wines
RAEN sources fruit from three distinct vineyards along the Sonoma Coast, each selected for their proximity to the Pacific Ocean and cool maritime influence. The Fort Ross-Seaview vineyard sits at approximately 1,400 feet elevation, planted on well-draining soils derived from ancient seabed. The Freestone Occidental vineyard, located in the western reaches of the Russian River Valley, features Goldridge sandy loam soils at a lower elevation with morning fog influence. Their Bodega vineyard, positioned closest to the ocean, experiences the coolest temperatures of the three sites.
The winery produces three single-vineyard Pinot Noirs: "Royal St. Robert" from their Freestone Occidental vineyard, named in honor of their grandfather; "Home Field" from their Fort Ross-Seaview vineyard; and "Sea Field" from their Bodega site. Each bottling aims to express the specific character of its vineyard origin. The vineyards are farmed with low yields, typically harvesting between 1.5 to 2 tons per acre to ensure concentration and flavor development in the fruit.
Philosophy & Practice
RAEN's approach centers on minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar. The Mondavi brothers employ organic farming practices across their vineyard sources, focusing on soil health through cover cropping and natural compost applications. Their vineyard management emphasizes canopy architecture that allows for natural airflow while providing appropriate sun exposure for the fruit.
In the winery, fermentations begin with native yeasts, and the brothers utilize varying percentages of whole clusters in fermentation depending on the vineyard and vintage characteristics. Extraction techniques are gentle, primarily using punch-downs rather than pump-overs to maintain delicate aromatics. The wines age in French oak barrels, with new oak typically comprising 30-40% of the program, for approximately 12 months before bottling without fining or filtration.
The Mondavis describe their winemaking philosophy as "transparent," aiming to showcase vineyard expression rather than winemaking technique. Annual production remains small, allowing for detailed attention to each vineyard block and fermentation lot. Their focus on cool-climate viticulture reflects a commitment to producing Pinot Noir with natural acidity, moderate alcohol levels, and site-specific character.