Gavi

Gavi is a dry, crisp white from Piedmont in northern Italy, made from the Cortese grape. Expect lemon, green apple and pear with white flowers, almonds and a fresh mineral edge. Light, elegant and seriously refreshing, it’s brilliant with prawns, grilled fish, seafood pasta, roast chicken, salads and fresh Italian dishes.

Taste:

Crisp, clean and very well put together.

Gavi is typically dry and light to medium-bodied, with bright acidity and flavours of lemon, green apple and pear. You may also find white peach, delicate floral aromas, fresh herbs and a subtle stony or mineral character.

A gentle almond note can appear on the finish, adding a slightly savoury edge to all that fresh fruit.

Most Gavi keeps things crisp and unoaked, although more serious examples can develop extra texture and complexity with time.

If Pinot Grigio is your safe order but you're ready to branch out, Gavi is a very easy next move.

Food Pairings:

Gavi's fresh acidity makes it brilliant with seafood and lighter Italian dishes.

Try it with prawns, mussels, crab, calamari, scallops or grilled fish such as sea bass, cod and sea bream. Seafood pasta, prawn linguine, spaghetti alle vongole and garlic prawns are excellent matches too.

It also works beautifully with roast chicken, grilled chicken and chicken dishes with lemon or fresh herbs.

For Italian food, try pesto pasta, bruschetta, antipasti, grilled vegetables, tomato and mozzarella salad or a light vegetable risotto.

Fresh salads work well too, particularly goat's cheese salad or dishes with citrus-based dressings.

For cheese, try mozzarella, ricotta, goat's cheese, Parmesan or other fresh to medium-strength cheeses.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Gavi, Cortese is the grape to explore further – it's entirely responsible for Gavi's signature citrus, green fruit and mineral character.

Pinot Grigio offers another light, crisp northern Italian style, while Vermentino brings more Mediterranean herbs and salty character.

Albariño is also worth exploring if bright acidity, citrus and seafood-friendly freshness are what you love most.

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More About Gavi:

Gavi comes from vineyards around the town of Gavi in Piedmont, northwestern Italy, and must be made from the Cortese grape.

The wine has DOCG status, and you'll sometimes see Gavi del Comune di Gavi – often shortened to Gavi di Gavi – on bottles made from grapes grown specifically within the commune of Gavi.

The area's hills, soils and relatively cool conditions help Cortese retain the acidity that gives Gavi its famously fresh character.

And although Piedmont is better known internationally for heavyweight reds such as Barolo and Barbaresco, Gavi has quietly built one of Italy's most recognisable white-wine names.

Surrounded by Nebbiolo royalty and still got itself on the wine list.

Respect.