Giuseppe Cortese

Giuseppe Cortese is a Piedmontese winemaker based in Barbaresco, in the Langhe, whose identity is closely linked to the Rabajà geographical indication and the Trifolera hill. The winery was founded in 1971 and has remained a family-run business, focused on showcasing the terroir and the Nebbiolo grape, which finds one of its most distinctive expressions here. The vineyards are arranged in a natural amphitheatre below Barbaresco, where the southern and south-western exposures of the Rabajà contribute to wines of structure, depth and mineral character. La Trifolera, with its varied slopes and orientations, completes the agronomic picture by offering a broader perspective on the local vineyard landscape.

The relationship with the land is a key feature of the estate’s approach: the light-coloured soils, characterised by marl with whitish and blue hues, are managed using practices designed to preserve their natural balance, including green manure, bio-elements and minimal intervention. This focus on the raw material extends throughout the entire growing cycle, particularly for Nebbiolo, which is carefully monitored from flowering through to harvest.

In the cellar, the approach combines traditional methods with a contemporary sensibility. Concrete tanks are used for clean, elegant winemaking, whilst Slavonian oak accompanies the development of the Nebbiolo without overpowering its character. The result is a style true to Barbaresco: austere yet balanced wines, elegant in texture and capable of accurately reflecting the personality of the hills from which they come.