Gavi Wine Region Guide

DOCG Gavi, also known as Cortese di Gavi, is one of Piedmont's most well-known white wine regions. The DOCG designation is the highest, suggesting guaranteed control of origin by appellation. These wines are officially regarded as the greatest in Italy. Gavi is referred to as the ”white monarch” of Piedmont wines.

Gavi's architectural icon is an impregnable fortress on top of a hill, and the white Cortese variety is used to make Gavi wine. The elegance and richness of Gavi white wines are due in large part to the native grape varietals, climate, and the attention of the area's winemakers. These elements define a wine style found nowhere else in Italy or the world.

We hope you enjoy exploring the iconic wines that have made Gavi a favourite among wine enthusiasts all around the world. Look through our site to discover what Wineries in Gavi have to offer and take full advantage of this lovely region. Find out more about Wine Tasting and Tours in Gavi.

Where is the Gavi Wine Region?

The center of its production is located in the town of Gavi, in the south-east of Piedmont. The flavor profile of Gavi, an Italian white wine predominantly made from the Cortese grape, is a delightful bouquet of freshness and complexity. Upon first taste, you're greeted with lively, crisp notes of lemon, grapefruit, and green apple, tinged with the tropical undertones of melon and pear. The wine's elegant minerality comes forth, adding a fascinating edge to its fruity attributes. Occasional nuances of roasted almond add a layer of sophistication, lending the wine a unique, creamy texture. All these elements harmonize, presenting a wine that is as refreshing as it is nuanced, capturing the quintessence of Gavi's wine palate.

Unique Terroir of Gavi Appellation

The decisive factor in the outstanding qualities of Gavi wines is, of course, the genetics of the grape Cortese and maximum harmony with the climate. The variety was literally born in these places, and everything is native to it in Piedmont. 

DOCG Gavi includes the lands of 11 communes. This is a foothill area located on the hills. In the area of the town of Gavi, the hills rise to a height of 450 meters. From the south, the wine zone is closed by the Apennines. The Gavi terroir is created by the ancient seabed. Limestone layers lie in the depths, while three main types of soils are distinguished on the surface. These are red clay, mixed marls and sands and white clay marls. The climate has continental features. The winters are cold and snow often falls, meanwhile in summer it is cooler and windy here than in the neighboring northern regions. 

History of Gavi Wine Region

Winemaking has been practiced in modern Piedmont for at least a thousand years. The first record of local vineyards dates back to 972. Even the Cortese grapes have a long history, with the oldest recorded mentions dating back to 1659.

Noble links and aristocratic background pervade the history of Gavi wine. Gavi acquired the admiration and reverence of many noble Genoese during its first famous heyday. Much of wine history is linked to Villa Toledana - this estate has changed hands numerous times over hundreds of years, and all of them were involved in the wine trade in some way.

In 1856, the grandson of Genoa's Doge, who was also the villa's next owner, chose to break up the Cortese vineyards right on the terraces. The noble Martini family now owns Villa Toledana, which, as the name suggests, also produces superb wines. Various noble families joined the winemaking industry in general, and the development of Gavi in particular, at various times.  

Gavi wine was doomed to success due to its noble origins. The drink quickly acquired popularity on the territory of current Italy's states as well as outside their borders. The Piedmont suffered from phylloxera in the beginning of the twentieth century, but the pest was unable to completely damage the industry—winemakers were able to quickly recoup losses and even improve crop quality. Gavi was awarded a high DOC category in 1974, and the highest DOCG in 1998.

What is Gavi Wine?

Dry and semi dry Gavi wines have a lively and elegant character, and their fans consider Gavi one of the wines that perfectly match seafood. Cortese, from which all the wines are made, conveys to them subtlety, delicacy and freshness, as well as an elegant and mild aroma.

The Gavi wine appellation also makes sparkling wines. The latter are divided into Frizzante, Spumante and Riserva Spumante Metodo Classico. Sparkling according to the classical method involves fermentation and 18-month aging in bottles.

Food to Pair with Gavi wine

Ravioli alla Genovese

Ravioli alla Genovese is a typical Ligurian dish which are filled with a mixture of meat, endive, and borage, are customarily served with a sauce called tocco, or tuccu in Genoese dialect—hence the name ravioli al tocco.

Tocco is a sauce made from a single cut of pork that is simmered for hours at a low temperature. The sauce is used to flavor the ravioli, while the meat is used for both the filler and as a main course. Ravioli alla Genovese are a really authentic gastronomic experience and a must-try when visiting Genoa, finished with a dusting of freshly grated Parmigiano.

Cappon magro

Cappon magro is a delicious Ligurian seafood and vegetable salad served on a hardtack cracker. Because the ingredients are customarily stacked in a colorful pyramid and drizzled with green sauce, the salad is aesthetically attractive. Lobsters, white fish, carrots, potatoes, celery, olives, capers, and hard-boiled eggs are among of the most typical components used in cappon magro. It makes a good match with Cortese de Gavi wines.

Places to visit in Gavi Wine Region

Gavi, Tranquil Town With Romantic Legends

Like many Piedmontese towns, this is a very ancient settlement. In addition, it is located on the slope of the mountain, at some distance from the Gavi castle that occupied the top. The castle is the hero of a famous legend that connects the city and the wine from Cortese with the name "Gavi". This castle peeps through the gaps in the streets. Legend says that Princess Gavia hid here with her lover from the wrath of her father. Her hair was blonde, and the local white wine was named after her. 

Tortona, A Place With The Unique Piedmontese Truffles 

Tortona is the capital of the region known as the Colli Tortonesi, which stretches from the city to the border with Liguria. This area is known for the variety of its products and the intensive production of wines whose origin dates back to the 14th century. Truffles are another important fruit of this land, and Coli Tortonesi is the only place in Piedmont where three varieties of truffles are grown: incredible white and black truffles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gavi Wine Region