The Gli Aironi rice fields sit on a huge wetland in Eastern Piedmonte that was once home to a thriving population of Grey Heron. But over the years, intensive rice cultivation nearly decimated the local Grey Heron population. When those practices finally stopped, and more ecologically sound rice cultivation began, the Grey Herons began to return to the rice fields. Michele Perinotti named the company after the Grey Heron as a reminder of the importance of the environment and respecting nature in all they do. Beyond being good stewards to their land, Gli Aironi concentrates on using old world methods and equipment, like stone mills, and new world methods, like oxygen free packaging, to produce some of the best rice in the world.