1–0 of 0
Cortese is a high-quality white grape variety grown in Northern Italy, in the Piedmont region. It produces world-renowned, exceptionally fresh and dry white wines. Smelling of lime, peaches, green apples, and wet stones, Cortese wines are a perfect, elegant, and thirst-quenching choice for those who enjoy mineral-driven drinks.
Read moreThis variety is best known for one specific appellation that has become the benchmark for Italian white wine quality. When choosing, look for authenticity.
Top-tier Cortese wines are labeled with the Gavi DOCG or Gavi di Gavi names (meaning the grapes were grown in the very heart of the town of Gavi). Most of these wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures to retain explosive fruitiness and crisp acidity. However, some winemakers age the wine on the lees (sur lie), thereby giving it a creamier texture, weight, and an almond finish that pairs ideally with the variety's natural freshness.
Due to its piercing acidity and salty minerality, Cortese is a classic seafood wine. It pairs flawlessly with fresh oysters, seafood risotto, fish carpaccio, and pasta dressed with Pesto sauce. It is also a fantastic and mouth-refreshing aperitif before a hearty dinner.
Although Piedmont is famous for heavy Barolo and Barbaresco wines, historically, the region's nobility and the merchants of the port city of Genoa needed a fresh white wine to pair with the local Ligurian seafood cuisine. The Cortese grape, which perfectly retains acidity even during warmer summers, became the ideal solution and a historical regional pride.
Most Cortese (Gavi) wines are designed to be enjoyed in their youth (within 1–3 years) when their citrus and green apple aromas are at their brightest. However, top-quality Gavi di Gavi bottles, especially those aged on the lees, can successfully improve in the cellar for 5–7 years, acquiring richer notes of honey and wax.
