Tortona lies at the heart of a hilly wine-growing region that stretches across the Curone, Grue and Ossona valleys, in a transitional zone between the Po Valley and the foothills of the Apennines. The climate combines continental characteristics – with temperature variations that favour ripening – with influences from the Ligurian region, which help to moderate summer temperatures and facilitate a slow aromatic development of the grapes. The geology is one of the region’s defining features: the Sant’Agata Fossili marl, of marine origin and rich in limestone and clay, is complemented by marly, sandy and alluvial soils, which help to produce savoury, structured and long-lived wines.
The grape varieties grown here include Timorasso, Barbera, Cortese, Dolcetto, Croatina, Freisa, Favorita and Bonarda Piemontese. Timorasso, historically linked to the Tortona hills and now also promoted under the name Derthona, produces whites with character, capable of combining tension, depth and the potential for ageing. Barbera finds one of its most distinctive expressions in the Monleale sub-zone, whilst Cortese and Dolcetto interpret the terroir through fresh, fragrant and harmonious wines. Hand-harvesting, careful grape selection and meticulous winemaking – often focused on enhancing freshness and extended ageing on the lees – complete a winemaking tradition deeply rooted in Tortona’s agricultural history.
