10 editor-picked Cortese producers across 2 regions.
A guide to Cortese worth seeking out, by region. We list the estates, how each region expresses the grape, and the bottles that show it best.
Founded in 1881 and still cellaring within Alba's ancient Roman walls, Pio Cesare is one of Piedmont's historic houses, making both classic blended Barolo and the single-vineyard Ornato.
Tasting: Tours and tastings by appointment, Monday to Saturday morning, in the historic Alba cellars inside the Roman walls.
Signature wines: barolo-ornato, barolo-pio-cesare, barbaresco-il-bricco
Rooted in the cellars where the modern Barolo style was shaped under the Falletti marquises, Marchesi di Barolo is the village's most historic house, now run by the Abbona family.
Tasting: Guided tours of the historic cellars and tastings daily, by reservation, opposite the castle of Barolo.
Signature wines: barolo-cannubi-marchesi, barolo-sarmassa, barolo-del-comune-di-barolo
Founded in 1956, Michele Chiarlo is one of Monferrato's leading houses, with holdings across Barbera d'Asti, Nizza, Gavi and Barolo and the La Court vineyard art park near Asti.
Tasting: Tastings at the Calamandrana cellar and the open-air Art Park La Court; visits by reservation.
Signature wines: barbera-dasti-la-court, nizza-cipressi, barolo-cerequio
Founded in Canelli in 1892, Coppo is a Monferrato house known for the barrique-aged Pomorosso Barbera and traditional-method sparkling wines, cellaring in UNESCO-listed tufa caves.
Tasting: Guided visits and tastings in the UNESCO-listed underground cathedral cellars beneath Canelli.
Signature wines: pomorosso-barbera-dasti, coppo-riserva-spumante, moncalvina-moscato-dasti
The Soldati family pioneered premium Gavi at Rovereto, trademarking Gavi dei Gavi in 1969. La Scolca makes age-worthy 100% Cortese whites and traditional-method sparkling wines.
Tasting: Tastings and visits by appointment at the Rovereto di Gavi estate, with Villa Scolca for events.
Signature wines: gavi-dei-gavi-etichetta-nera, gavi-valentino, soldati-la-scolca-brut-millesimato
Cortese from the historic Gavi house at Rovereto. Crisp green-apple and citrus with a flinty, mineral finish, the dry white that put Gavi on the map at an everyday price for its black-label sibling's cellar.
Tip: The basic Gavi from this estate over-delivers; reserve the famous black-label Gavi dei Gavi for a splurge.
The Piona family estate at Sommacampagna is one of the benchmarks for Bianco di Custoza DOC, producing a crisp blend of Trebbiano, Garganega and Cortese on the morainic hills south of Lake Garda.
Tasting: Tasting visits at the Sommacampagna estate by appointment.
Signature wines: cavalchina-bianco-di-custoza, cavalchina-amedeo
A family estate on the glacial morainic amphitheater south of Lake Garda at Custoza. The estate specialises in crisp, food-friendly Bianco di Custoza DOC from Garganega, Trebbiano and Cortese.
Tasting: Tasting visits at the morainic estate in Custoza by appointment.
Signature wines: gorgo-bianco-di-custoza, gorgo-merlot-garda
The Piccoli family estate at Valeggio sul Mincio on the morainic rim of Lake Garda produces a fresh, saline Bianco di Custoza DOC alongside an interesting Garda Cabernet from south-shore hillside vineyards.
Tasting: Tasting visits at the Valeggio sul Mincio estate; bookable online.
Signature wines: corte-gardoni-bianco-di-custoza, corte-gardoni-le-fontane-garda-cabernet
The Custoza cooperative founded in 1958 is the largest producer in the Bianco di Custoza DOC appellation. High-volume accessible wines from morainic soils at good prices; the walk-in shop is a tourist draw on the Garda circuit.
Tasting: Public shop and tasting room at Custoza; walk-in welcome.
Signature wines: cantina-custoza-bianco-di-custoza
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