Gavi DOCG, also known as Gavi or Cortese di Gavi, is produced in the southeastern corner of Piedmont, among the hills around the town of Gavi and close to the Ligurian Apennines. The denomination occupies a climatic and geological threshold where maritime influences from nearby Liguria meet a more continental inland environment. Warm days, cooler nights, and air currents descending from the mountains encourage gradual, even ripening while helping Cortese retain its defining natural acidity.
Vineyards extend across undulating slopes with varied elevations and exposures. Calcareous clay marl, pale marl, sand, gravelly deposits, and, in some sites, more iron-rich soils shape the character of the wines. This mosaic of soils can give Cortese citrus clarity, white-flower notes, delicate herbal nuances, and a taut mineral impression. Well-drained hillside sites moderate water availability and favour aromatic definition in the fruit.
Cortese is the denomination’s essential and defining grape variety, traditionally vinified on its own. An old white variety of Piedmont, it is valued for its relatively late budbreak and for its capacity to preserve acidity through full ripening. Canopy management, ventilation around the bunches, and careful harvest selection are important in the vineyard, allowing growers to bring in sound grapes with balanced maturity and a distinctive aromatic profile.
Winemaking generally seeks precision, fragrance, and freshness. Grapes are gently pressed and the must is commonly fermented at controlled temperatures in stainless steel. A period on fine lees may add texture and complexity without masking varietal expression, while malolactic conversion is often avoided to retain vibrant acidity. Alongside still Gavi, the denomination includes lightly sparkling, sparkling, and Riserva expressions. Sparkling versions may be made by tank fermentation or the traditional bottle-fermented method. The area’s roots lie in a long local tradition of growing Cortese; Gavi’s modern identity developed from the close relationship between this grape, its hillside soils, and a distinctive style of bright, refined white wine.
