Cortese

Cortese is a white Italian wine grape variety predominantly grown in the southeastern regions of Piedmont in the provinces of Alessandria and Asti.

Cortese has a long history in Italian viticulture, with written documentation naming the grape among the plantings in a Piedmontese vineyard as early as 1659.

The grape's moderate acidity and light flavors have made it a favorite for the restaurants in nearby Genoa as a wine pairing with the local seafood caught off the Ligurian coast.

DeMaria and Carlo Leardi noted that the Cortese was being widely cultivated in the Alessandria province of Piedmont, where it was prized for its hardiness to grape diseases and ability to produce large crop yields as well as high-quality wine.

Despite the proximity to Gavi, Cortese experiences a significantly difficult time with the grapes fully ripening in Tortona and Monferrato.