Gavi Di Gavi, Conte di Alari, 2025
Gavi Di Gavi, Conte di Alari, 2025
- White Still
- 75.0cl
- 13.0%
- Cortese
Gavi di Gavi from Conte di Alari is Piemonte doing what it does best when it isn't thinking about Barolo: making a white wine of real precision from the Cortese grape, grown around the town of Gavi in the province of Alessandria. This is coastal-leaning Piemonte, cooler and more marine-influenced than the Langhe, and it shows in the wine's nervy, saline freshness.
Expect pale lemon in the glass, a nose of citrus and orchard fruit, and a palate that stays taut and bone-dry right through to a faintly almond-tinged finish. Drink it young and cold, ideally within a few years of the vintage, while that energy is still crackling.
- ❖ ABV: 13.0%
Grapes
Cortese
Vintage report
The 2025 vintage caught everyone by surprise in Piemonte. What looked like a challenging year on paper turned into something rather special, though we're still piecing together exactly how it happened. Spring arrived early with warm, dry conditions that had growers nervously checking soil moisture levels, but summer brought just enough rain at the right moments to keep the vines happy without creating disease pressure. The harvest stretched longer than usual, with patient producers able to pick at optimal ripeness rather than racing against weather.
We're tasting wines with real backbone and freshness that we frankly didn't expect after such a warm start to the season. The Nebbiolo shows particular promise – there's power here, but it's wrapped in surprising finesse rather than the brooding tannins that can make young Barolo such hard work. Barbera has turned out beautifully vibrant with lovely natural acidity, while Dolcetto offers more concentration than usual without losing its cheerful drinkability. Most of these wines want a few more years in bottle to show their best, though the Barberas and Dolcettos are drinking well already if you fancy an early peek.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale straw yellow with a bright, youthful rim.
NoseLemon zest and green apple lead, with a faint whiff of white flowers and crushed stone beneath.
PalateBone dry and taut, with citrus and a crisp green apple core carried on bright, saline acidity.
FinishClean and precise, closing on a faint almond note.
Overall impressionA wine of clarity and purpose rather than flamboyance.
Food Pairings
Around Gavi, this wine turns up alongside the seafood of the nearby Ligurian coast, think fritto misto, grilled branzino, or a simple plate of anchovies with olive oil. Locally it also partners trofie with pesto, since the Genoese border is barely an hour away, and the wine's acidity cuts cleanly through the basil and pine nuts. It is equally at home with a plate of vitello tonnato, a Piemontese classic that benefits from a sharp, citrus-driven white.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well chilled, around 8-10°C, straight from the fridge rather than an ice bucket that numbs its subtlety. No decanting required, its charm lies in immediacy. A standard white wine glass is fine, though something slightly narrower will help concentrate the citrus and mineral notes.
The vineyards around Gavi sit on calcareous clay and limestone soils, legacies of the area's marine past, at moderate altitude in the hills south of Alessandria. Proximity to the Ligurian coast brings cooling maritime breezes that temper the summer heat and preserve acidity in the Cortese grapes. This combination of limestone and sea air is what gives Gavi its characteristic salinity and lift.
Gavi, or Cortese di Gavi, is a DOCG in southeastern Piemonte reserved exclusively for the Cortese grape. The top sub-zone, Gavi di Gavi, refers to wine made from grapes grown around the commune of Gavi itself, traditionally considered the heartland of the appellation. Compared to other Piemontese whites, Gavi trades richness for precision, built on acidity and minerality rather than aromatic exuberance.
The 2025 vintage caught everyone by surprise in Piemonte. What looked like a challenging year on paper turned into something rather special, though we're still piecing together exactly how it happened. Spring arrived early with warm, dry conditions that had growers nervously checking soil moisture levels, but summer brought just enough rain at the right moments to keep the vines happy without creating disease pressure. The harvest stretched longer than usual, with patient producers able to pick at optimal ripeness rather than racing against weather.
We're tasting wines with real backbone and freshness that we frankly didn't expect after such a warm start to the season. The Nebbiolo shows particular promise – there's power here, but it's wrapped in surprising finesse rather than the brooding tannins that can make young Barolo such hard work. Barbera has turned out beautifully vibrant with lovely natural acidity, while Dolcetto offers more concentration than usual without losing its cheerful drinkability. Most of these wines want a few more years in bottle to show their best, though the Barberas and Dolcettos are drinking well already if you fancy an early peek.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Crisp and dry, with lemon zest, green apple, and a saline, almond-tinged finish.
When should I drink this wine?
Now, and over the next couple of years. This is a wine for youthful freshness, not cellaring.
What food should I pair it with?
Seafood is the natural match, from grilled fish to fritto misto, along with lighter pasta dishes like trofie al pesto.
How should I serve it?
Chilled to around 8-10°C in a standard white wine glass, no decanting needed.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
No, this is a wine to enjoy young while its vibrant acidity and fruit are at their best.
What grape is Gavi made from?
Gavi is made entirely from Cortese, a white grape native to Piemonte known for its high acidity and mineral character.
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