Gavi

The "Gavi" or "Cortese di Gavi" Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) includes different types of wines: Still, Sparkling, Spumante, Riserva and Riserva Spumante classic method.

Grapes

All types of Gavi wines are produced in purity, using exclusively grapes from the Cortese grape variety..

Physicochemical and Organoleptic properties

The "Gavi Tranquillo" (minimum total alcoholic strength by volume of 10.50% vol.) is a straw yellow colour with variable intensity. The aroma is characteristic and delicate and the taste is dry and pleasant, with a fresh and harmonious taste. The same applies to the sparkling wine, which is enhanced by a fine, evanescent froth. The sparkling wine (10.50% vol.) is also straw yellow, with different intensities, and a fine and persistent froth. The aroma is characteristic, fine and delicate and the taste dry and harmonious. Finally, the Riserva and Riserva spumante classic method variants (11.00% vol.) have a straw yellow colour, a characteristic, fine and delicate aroma and a harmonious, dry and pleasant flavour. The sparkling wine is accompanied by a fine and persistent froth.

Grape production area

The small production area of Gavi (or Cortese di Gavi) is located in the south-eastern part of Piemonte, in an area where the great plain and the mountain meet.

Specificity and historical notes

Cortese is a native vine of the Gavi production area, where it has been cultivated for centuries. The spread of viticulture in the area certainly dates back to before the year 1000, as attested by a document of 972, kept in the State Archives of Genova, which speaks of a lease of vineyards in the locality Meirana. A correspondence between the Castle of Montaldo and the Marquis Doria dates back to 1659, from which it emerges the existence of land all used as Cortese.