Cortese

Cortese carries VIVC variety number 2856 under the prime name Cortese, with a white (blanc) berry skin. The variety's country or region of origin is Italy. Its parents are unknown: both parent fields in its VIVC passport are empty and its full pedigree field reads 'NO'. The passport's offspring field reads 'YES', but the VIVC-derived lineage data on this site name no children, full siblings or half siblings for Cortese.

• VIVC variety number 2856; prime name CORTESE; berry skin colour blanc (white)
• Country or region of origin of the variety: Italy
• Parents: unknown (VIVC lists neither a parent 1 nor a parent 2)

Cortese is a speciality of south-east Piemonte in general and Gavi in particular. It is best known as the variety used in the wines of Gavi DOCG in the Piemonte region of north-west Italy, and it sits alongside Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera among the grape varieties of Piemonte. Gavi, also named Cortese di Gavi, is one of Piedmont's DOCG wines, and Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato is a Piemonte DOC. Piedmont's list of denominations also includes the Monferrato DOC with its Casalese subzone followed by the variety name Cortese.

• Gavi or Cortese di Gavi: DOCG in Piemonte (register code PDO-IT-A1310)
• Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato: DOC in Piemonte (register code PDO-IT-A1111)
• Monferrato DOC: the Casalese subzone followed by the variety name Cortese
• Piemonte grape varieties: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera and Cortese

Cortese is typically used to make dry, light-bodied, unoaked wines. One critic's short verdict on the grape is 'Crisp and, with luck, fruity.' Writing about Piemonte as a whole, a critic finds that the region's local white grape specialities 'to my palate share delicacy, dryness and an aroma that often reminds me of ripe pears', and calls Cortese 'the grape of the most respected white, Gavi'.

• Sweetness and body: typically dry and light-bodied
• Oak: typically unoaked
• Character, in one critic's words: 'Crisp and, with luck, fruity.'

Most wines made from Cortese are ready to drink on release and are not intended to age, and the grape is typically used for unoaked wines. Among Piedmont's DOCG wines, Gavi may use additional geographical indications, except for the riserva and the riserva spumante metodo classico, and may use the Vigna mention.

• Most Cortese wines are ready to drink on release and are not intended to age
• The Gavi riserva and riserva spumante metodo classico are excluded from the use of additional geographical indications

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=2856 ; https://www.wsetglobal.com/media/13022/wset_l2wines_sessionplans_en_may2023_issue2.pdf ; https://www.wsetglobal.com/media/11731/wset_l3wines_specification_en_highres_may2022_issue2.pdf ; https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252Fd%252F5%252FD.fd1629819dea12c20cf4/P/BLOB%3AID%3D4625/E/pdf?mode=download ; https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/files/8/8/c/D.c98d43be48c9b307022a/Vini_DOCG_DOC_IGT_suddivisi_per_regione.pdf Reference sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/white/cortese ; https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/wine-regions/italy/piemonte Last verified 2026-10-04