🍇 Cortese

Cortese is a white grape from Piedmont in north-western Italy. The best-known wine made from it is Gavi.

The variety gives wines with noticeable acidity and freshness. Most often they are light, dry whites with citrus and floral notes. Cortese is grown in Piedmont, in Monferrato and around Gavi. It also makes Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato and is part of some blends, such as Custoza. The variety appears in lists of Italian grapes.

Gavi is both a place name and a wine name, so on a label it often replaces the grape name. The wine is usually drunk young and goes well with fish and light dishes. As with other Italian grapes, style depends on soil, vineyard height and the winemaker. Cortese wine usually needs no long ageing, though the best Gavi can develop in the bottle for several years.