Christina Ascheri

Gavi

In the 1980s, Gavi was the poster child for Italian white wines. While other whites like Pinot Grigio and big bold reds have become more popular in the years since then, Gavi has not broken its stride. Local producers continue to make fantastic versions of its crisp, easy-to-drink white wine. These light-bodied and zingy wines are mainly made from the local Cortese grape, grown at high altitudes in southern Piedmont. The sea breezes and cool hilltop temperatures here help to keep the acidity in the grapes, which brings about crisply refreshing wines that are fruit-forward and bursting with flavors of ripe citrus, green apple and pear. The DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) classification is the top tier for Italian wine classifications. It controls production methods and wine quality. Strict rules oversee the production of DOCG designated wines, including allowed varietals, winemaking procedures, barrel and bottle aging methods, grape ripeness and limits on grape yields during harvest. DOCG wines are also required to be officially tasted. DOCG bottles have numbered government seals across the neck of the bottle to prevent forgery.