Cortese is a white wine grape variety, not a region, appellation or winemaking method. It is most strongly associated with Piedmont in north-west Italy, particularly the Gavi area. Wines made from Cortese are often dry and fresh, with possible flavours of citrus, fresh fruit, white flowers and bitter almond.
The style can change with the vineyard, ripeness and winemaking, so those flavours are useful guideposts rather than a fixed recipe.
Highlights
Cortese is closely linked with Piedmont, especially the Gavi area in Alessandria province. Gavi is the name of a protected Italian wine appellation covering a defined group of municipalities; it is not the name of the grape.
That distinction matters because Cortese can be made outside the Gavi denomination. A wine labelled “Cortese” is not automatically a Gavi.
What does Cortese wine taste like?
The classic style is usually dry, fresh and restrained rather than rich or heavily flavoured. You may notice:
- citrus
- fresh fruit
- white flowers
- a subtle bitter-almond character
Cortese often works well when you want a refreshing white wine with enough flavour to accompany food without dominating it. Its freshness can suit lighter dishes, although the best match depends on the wine’s body and the way the food is prepared.
Not every Cortese wine will taste the same. Grape-growing conditions and winemaking choices can influence its texture, aroma and weight. Treat the descriptions as a starting point, not a tasting test you have to pass.
Cortese and Gavi: what is the difference?
Cortese is the grape variety.
Gavi, also known as Cortese di Gavi, is a protected Italian appellation for wine made in the defined Gavi area. Gavi DOCG is made from 100% Cortese grapes under the denomination’s production rules.
In simple terms, Cortese is the ingredient; Gavi is a regulated place-based wine name. A Cortese wine from elsewhere may be a perfectly valid Cortese, but it cannot automatically use the Gavi name.
You may also see Cortese associated with other Italian designations. These are separate from Gavi and should not be treated as interchangeable names.
How might Australians encounter Cortese?
An Australian reader may come across “Cortese” on a wine label or restaurant list as the name of the grape. Wine Australia recognises Cortese in its material on grape varieties and Australian labelling.
The available evidence does not establish the scale of Australian plantings, production or availability, so it is better not to assume that Cortese is widely grown or commonly stocked here. If an Australian wine uses the name Cortese, that does not make it a Gavi: Gavi DOCG is an Italian appellation with its own defined geographic and production rules.
Cortese in a sentence
Cortese is an Italian white grape, best known through the dry, fresh wines of Piedmont’s Gavi area—but not every Cortese wine is Gavi.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cortese a grape or a wine?
Cortese is primarily the name of a white grape variety. It is also used to describe wines made from that grape.
Is Cortese the same as Gavi?
No. Cortese is the grape; Gavi is a protected Italian appellation associated with a defined area in Piedmont.
Is Cortese wine sweet?
Cortese is commonly made in a dry style, particularly in the classic Gavi expression. Individual wines can vary.