Gavi: discovering Piedmont's famous white wine

Widely known abroad, Gavi DOCG is the great white wine of Piedmont, whose name is tied to that of a princess. This appellation, established in 1998 from the pre-existing 1974 DOC, is reserved for white wines made purely from Cortese grapes.
 

Gavi: history and origins

Legend has it that the name of Gavi wine is linked to the story of a princess, the daughter of Chlodomer, the King of the Franks. Condemned by the court when she decided to marry in secret, she moved to Gavi to try to escape the royal troops. Made from Cortese grapes, the name of this Italian white wine comes from the maiden's beauty and extraordinary kindness.   
Some historians, however, have traced the origin of its production to a period before the arrival of the Romans, so the name may be a combination of two Ligurian roots, namely 'ga' (earth) and 'va' (hole). 
 
The Gavi Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) was created in 1998 to replace the 1974 DOC denomination. The ministerial decree authorises the production of still, semi-sparkling and sparkling white wines from the Cortese grape alone. The types covered are:

• Gavi Tranquillo 
• Gavi Frizzante
• Gavi Spumante
• Gavi Riserva
• Gavi riserva Spumante Metodo Classico.

The Gavi production area 

Extensive studies have made it possible to define the production area of Gavi with precision, based on the quality of the Cortese grapes used and the final result. 
It is a large area in the southern part of Piedmont, where breezes from the Ligurian coast have a positive influence on the final result of the product.
Of course, the home of Gavi is the village of the same name near Novi Ligure. Cortese grapes are also grown in the Tortona area and in the provinces of Alessandria and Novara. Other places where this famous white wine is produced are Castelletto d'Orba, Serravalle Scivia and San Cristoforo. Indeed, Gavi owes its characteristics to the climate of these areas, where winters are harsh and summers very hot. The fresh and slightly fruity fragrance comes from the location where the Cortese grapes are grown.
 

Vinification and bottling of Gavi

According to the regulations, the vinification of Gavi or Cortese di Gavi DOCG wines must be carried out within the production area and only those practices that give the wines their distinctive tasting characteristics are permitted. For example, Gavi Riserva requires one year of ageing, of which six months are spent in the bottle. Gavi Riserva Spumante Metodo Classico, on the other hand, is aged for two years, of which eighteen months are spent on the lees in the bottle.
Not only that, bottling operations must also be carried out within the defined production area in order to safeguard quality, guarantee origin and ensure adequate controls. 
 

Gavi DOCG: tasting characteristics

Cortese di Gavi Tranquillo DOCG is one of the types of wine covered by the appellation of the same name. The grape varieties that make up the wine are 100% Cortese. Light, bright straw yellow in colour, Gavi DOCG stands out on the nose for its notes of fresh fruit and acacia honey. On the palate, however, it offers a pleasantly acidic finish.
 

How to pair Gavi with food?

An extremely clean and savoury wine, Gavi is characterised by intense aromas that make it a perfect match for raw fish, sushi and spaghetti with clams. But not only fish, because there are also pleasant surprises in combination with cold cuts.

Let yourself be charmed by this elegant Piedmontese white wine and choose your preferred bottle of Gavi from the selection of the experts at Svinando!