Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG is one of Piemonte's most distinctive white wines, made exclusively from the Cortese grape. The style is dry and fresh, and it is precisely the clear acidity and the pure expression that have made the wine well known. The area lies in the province of Alessandria in north-western Italy, close to the border with Liguria, and it gained DOC status in 1974 and was elevated to DOCG in 1998.
The designation del Comune di Gavi (also called Gavi di Gavi) is a more delimited version, reserved for wines from vineyards within the municipality of Gavi itself. This gives a wine with a clear sense of place, where the soil and climate in this corner of Piemonte leave their mark on the grape. The mineral-rich soils contribute to a bone-dry style with a clean, mineral acidity that runs through the whole wine.
Aromatically, you will meet floral notes of white flowers along with lemon and green apple. Cortese thrives on being kept fresh and untouched, and Gavi is typically made in a clean, crisp style without heavy influence from oak. This is the explanation for the wine's light, bone-dry character, which makes it a versatile companion at the table. It suits shellfish, light fish dishes and fresh starters, but works just as well as a glass on its own.
At Copenhagen Wine we love this part of Piemonte for its ability to combine tradition and precision. If you want to explore more of the country's wines, you can dive into our selection from Italien as a whole, where you will find both fresh white wines and more structured red wines. Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG is a good place to start if you appreciate a white wine that puts purity and freshness at the centre rather than rich oak character.