Cortese

VIVC records Cortese as variety number 2856 under the prime name Cortese, with a white (blanc) berry skin. According to VIVC, the country or region of origin of the variety is Italy. VIVC records no known parents for Cortese: both parent fields in its 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 according to VIVC: Italy
• Parents: unknown (VIVC lists neither a parent 1 nor a parent 2)

jancisrobinson.com describes Cortese as a 'Speciality of south-east Piemonte in general and Gavi in particular.' WSET states that Cortese is best known as the variety used in the wines of Gavi DOCG in the Piemonte region of north-west Italy, and the WSET Level 3 specification lists Cortese among the grape varieties of Piemonte, alongside Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera. The MASAF register lists Gavi, also named Cortese di Gavi, among Piedmont's DOCG wines, and lists Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato as a Piemonte DOC. MASAF's list of Piedmont denominations also shows the Monferrato DOC with its Casalese subzone followed by the variety name Cortese.

• Gavi or Cortese di Gavi: DOCG in Piemonte (MASAF register code PDO-IT-A1310)
• Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato: DOC in Piemonte (MASAF register code PDO-IT-A1111)
• Monferrato DOC: MASAF lists the Casalese subzone followed by the variety name Cortese
• WSET Level 3 lists Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera and Cortese for Piemonte

WSET describes Cortese as typically used to make dry, light-bodied, unoaked wines. jancisrobinson.com sums the grape up as 'Crisp and, with luck, fruity.' On its Piemonte page, jancisrobinson.com says that Piemonte'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 (WSET): typically dry and light-bodied
• Oak (WSET): typically unoaked
• Character (jancisrobinson.com): 'Crisp and, with luck, fruity.'

WSET states that most wines made from Cortese are ready to drink on release and are not intended to age, and that the grape is typically used for unoaked wines. MASAF's list of Piedmont DOCG wines permits Gavi to use additional geographical indications, except for the riserva and the riserva spumante metodo classico, and permits the Vigna mention.

• Most Cortese wines are ready to drink on release and are not intended to age (WSET)
• MASAF's list of Piedmont DOCG wines excludes the Gavi riserva and riserva spumante metodo classico 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 2026-09-29