History
The ancient road
The estate takes its name from the old road crossing its land. In the thirteenth century, Marco Polo followed this route during his journeys of exploration and commerce; at the time, it was an established way of travelling east from the Venetian territories toward the Orient. Other merchants also used the road.
Entry into the Masi group
In December 2012, Masi Agricola S.p.A. and its subsidiary Terre e Vigne S.r.l. acquired all the shares of Società Agricola Strà del Milione S.r.l. from Paradiso S.p.A. Their respective interests were 95% and 5%. The transaction brought the large Castions di Strada property into Masi’s portfolio as part of its search for land with an established aptitude for viticulture beyond its original production area.
Masi subsequently planted extensive vineyards at Strà del Milione. The property became its Friulian base for wines shaped by the environmental and pedoclimatic conditions of the Grave, with indigenous varieties and regional methods interpreted in a contemporary Venetian style. Masianco, Grandarella and the Modello range are produced here and exported internationally.
Integrated production and current ownership
By 2024, Società Agricola Strà del Milione S.r.l. held certification under SQNPI, Italy’s National Quality System for Integrated Production. The certification covers sustainable agricultural practices, environmental and quality standards, and traceability throughout the supply chain.
At 31 December 2025, the Masi group controlled the company in full: Masi Agricola S.p.A. held 95% directly and the remaining 5% was held through the wholly owned subsidiary Masi Wine Experience S.r.l.
Terroir
Strà del Milione lies in the Castions di Strada area of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, within the Friulian plain known as the Grave. The wider Grave zone straddles the Tagliamento River across the provinces of Pordenone and Udine. Its name refers to the large pebbles deposited over centuries by flooding of the Meduna, Cellina and Tagliamento rivers.
The soils are alluvial, becoming coarser toward the pre-Alpine belt and finer in the direction of the coast. Their abundant stones intensify the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures.
The climate is temperate because of the proximity of the Adriatic Sea and the protection provided by the Alpine arc. Bora breezes arriving from the Gulf of Trieste further moderate conditions and help restrict humidity in the vineyards. The Dolomites shelter the area from northerly winds. Water management draws on abundant pure spring water.
Winemaking
Viticulture is organized around extensive modern plantings, quality control and environmental care. Vines are trained on espalier systems: Guyot, Sylvoz, Cordone Permanente and the local Casarsa form characterize the Friuli Grave context, while vineyards supplying the Modello project use Sylvoz and Guyot.
Società Agricola Strà del Milione S.r.l. holds SQNPI certification under Italy’s National Quality System for Integrated Production. It attests to the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, rigorous environmental and quality requirements, and complete traceability across the supply chain. Vineyard work combines this integrated-production framework with modern technology. Local water management makes use of abundant pure spring water.
Production is directed by the multidisciplinary Masi Technical Group rather than entrusted to a single traditional winemaker. Oenologists, agronomists, quality-control chemists, food technicians and marketing specialists collaborate under Raffaele Boscaini. For the Modello project, the team employs modern technology in both vineyard and cellar within a sustainability-oriented pursuit of quality.
The production concept combines indigenous Trevenezie grapes and regional winemaking traditions with contemporary technology. Among the named products made at the estate, Grandarella applies a 50-day period of over-ripening to Refosco.
Philosophy
Strà del Milione is conceived as a modern Friulian expression of Masi’s Venetian outlook: production is rooted in local environmental and pedoclimatic conditions, with an emphasis on indigenous grapes and regional techniques interpreted through contemporary technology.
The Modello project defines this approach through the use of the Trevenezie’s grape heritage and winemaking traditions to express the character of the land. At Strà del Milione, that principle is supported by integrated-production certification, environmental standards, traceability and the multidisciplinary work of the Masi Technical Group.