Gavi DOCG reveals its hidden depths
From a millennium’s history to wines that match contemporary tastes, db discovers the strengths of Gavi DOCG.
Gavi is a borderland, the southernmost edge of Piedmont, looking south towards Genoa and Liguria, with which it shares history, culture, and a deep connection. It offers an island of whites in a region known for its reds, where the Cortese grape has been rooted for more than a thousand years, giving rise to a wine —Gavi DOCG — that ultimately possesses a unique character.
Contemporary, modern, and versatile, it demonstrates an impressive ability to interpret the present and meet consumer tastes, elegantly gracing today’s tables.
Sharing his insight into the Gavi DOCG, Maurizio Montobbio, president of the Consorzio Tutela del Gavi (commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture to promote and protect the Gavi DOCG) explains: “Here, wine is not just a product, but part of a millennia-old culture, as evidenced by the Archaeological Area of Libarna, one of the most fascinating Roman sites in northern Italy. Gavi, like many still undiscovered destinations, welcomes visitors with authenticity and warmth: from tastings in historic wineries to walks among the vineyards, and the discovery of a cuisine that blends both the revered Liguria and Piedmont traditions alongside one another.”
How would the consorzio describe its most standout qualities?
As Montobbio points out: “If young Gavi is known for its vibrant freshness and marked sapidity, time grants it a richer, more complex structure, enhancing its mineral nuances.”
He goes on to add that what people are excited to taste is the wine’s unique ability to flex between accessibility and complexity, explaining: “While maintaining its lively acidity, it gains depth and persistence, revealing an impressive ageing potential.”
Montobbio insists that “with maturity, it transforms, offering complexity, an increasingly fine and ethereal minerality, full nose and persistent mouthfeel.”
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Soils in Gavi are divided into “red” and “white”, the former containing clay. There is also a central strip featuring alternating layers of marl and sandstone making up the third soil type present across the 11 municipalities of the Gavi denomination, giving the wines their uniqueness.
Versatile wines
Gavi is a versatile drink that is perfect for all occasions: a great white wine that brings a piece of Piedmont to the table.
As such, Gavi pairs perfectly with a wide array of dishes from different parts of the world. Young or aged, still or sparkling: this white wine is perfect for the entire meal and stands out for its freshness and rich flavour, matching especially well with Japanese and Middle Eastern cuisine
Still, there is nothing like visiting first-hand and trying the wine with local food. As Montobbio muses: “A visit would not be complete without tasting Gavi alongside focaccia, fried anchovies, or traditional ravioli.”
The complex territory, rich soils, diverse microclimate and the producers’ proclivity to enhance fruit quality have unveiled the “long” nature of Gavi: a wine that is also suitable for ageing over time, even eight to 10 years after harvest.
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