La Scolca Gavi

What is Gavi? Gavi is a DOCG region located the southern part of Piedmont, in northwestern Italy. It is renowned for fresh, elegant white wines made from the indigenous Cortese grape. Tenuta La Scolca was bought by the Soldati family in 1919. They put the Cortese grape on the map with their plantings at the estate in 1950s. They are known as the oldest and most modern winemaking estate. They follow traditional winemaking methods and use modern techniques while respecting and preserving what nature has created and given them. Each vineyard has an identity and they respect the origin of each grape variety.

This wine is from Rovereto Superiore di Gavi which is a renowned area for producing elegant quality Gavi white wine. The region is equivalent to a Grand Cru in France. The grapes are from 20 year old vineyards. The family utilizes thinning, pruning and green harvesting for lower yields of high quality grapes. The grapes are manually harvested into baskets and loaded onto small trailers. The grapes are cooled immediately with dry ice to prevent oxidation and to preserve to delicate aromas and flavors of this varietal. The wine undergoes an extended time on the lees which creates a creamy texture and mouthfeel. The slightly harder pressing of the grapes equals more solids in the must which creates a phenolic bite/bitter almond finish to the wine which is common for Northern Italian varietals.

This wine is a pale lemon color. The wine has aromas of lemon, wet stone and smoky minerality. The palate is dry, energetic acidity with flavors of lemon zest, lemon, lime, pear, green apple, wet stone and bitter almond finish. The wine’s acidity lights up one’s mouth.

Pair with seafood (oysters especially), antipasti or white fish ( roasted halibut with herb butter).