When I first started working with wine in restaurants, Gavi was THE Italian white wine. Over time it seemed to be overshadowed by the Piedmont region’s great Barolos and Barbarescos. The Gavi wine region is also in Piedmont, but it is very near the Ligurian Sea, which is a much warmer. The grape variety is Cortese and the appellation for this one is Gavi di Gavi, which means the grapes come from the town of Gavi. Lively and fresh, it offers citrus aromas and flavors laced with floral and mineral notes. In the mouth it is crisp with flavors of Meyer lemon and a smooth creaminess from extended lees contact. It is smooth enough to enjoy as an aperitif and crisp enough to complement roast turkey. Grifo del Quartaro on the wine label refers to a coin used by Gavi vineyard owners, nobility from the nearby city of Genoa.
Enrico Serafino, Gavi di Gavi DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) 2020
By Rebecca Murphy