Julian Reneaud

Julian Reneaud discovered his passion for wine thanks to his grandfather who was a winemaker in Corbières, Southern France. He first began making wine at the age of 14 and studied viticulture in Toulouse and Montpelier. After completing his two Master's degrees in agronomy and oenology Julian moved to California where he got involved with one of the most famous wineries in the world, Opus One.
Since 2014 he has been leading the organic and biodynamic winery Caiarossa in Tuscany and teaching winemakers around the world about organic and biodynamic principles. Julian Renaud believes that the right way for wine to express the true potential of the terroir is through minimal intervention of the oenologist during the vinification process.

“I grew up in the Corbières appellation in the South of France, playing in the family vineyards and winery. Although this childhood usually awakes some passion for wine, my rebel mind pushed me far away from the South of France with two tours around the world, one toward the East and then toward the West after graduating my two Master’s degrees in Agronomy and Winemaking. Discovering the biodynamic principles on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at Flowers Vineyards and Winery in the Sonoma Coast started to build my conception of winemaking. My experiences at Opus One, California, Caiarossa, Italy and some consulting in France, Italy, Bulgaria and China gave me the chance to define and experience further my ideas and philosophy for winemaking.
In 2018, I decided to focus on two projects ; Colline Albelle in Riparbella, one of the rising appellations in Tuscany, and Aya in Bulgaria, one of the most ambitious project I have ever seen. I believe those two projects will be the greatest patch to express my vision : Sustainability, balance and respect. True expression of terroir through indigenous varieties. One parcel, one variety, one vintage.”