Cortese

Cortese is a native white grape variety grown in Piedmont since the 18th century. It is found above all south of Alessandria, from Ovada to the Tortona hills. Very well known in Piedmont since the 18th century, it was at the time among the most cultivated in the area. The phylloxera that affected almost all European vineyards risked making the Cortese disappear, which was rediscovered and proposed by Mario Soldati in the early fifties. But it is around Gavi that Cortese has a great tradition and reaches the highest quality levels. Cortese di Gavi was the second DOCG denomination in Italy. in Lombardy we find it in the Oltrepo Pavese Cortese DOC, still, sparkling or sparkling wine. In Veneto, Cortese is found in the Garda Cortese DOC and in the Bianco di Custoza DOC under the synonym of Bianca Fernanda.