Chapter 21 Cortese, Garganega, Verdicchio and Fiano

Question 1

What are the main characteristics of Cortese, Garganega, Verdicchio and Fiano?

Answer 1

Cortese
Produces dry light bodied white wines with high acidity. Light floral aromas and flavours of green fruit and citrus. Best known for Gavi DOCG in Piemonte……typically fermented in inert vessels …..ready to drink on release. Not oaked.

Garganega.
Produces dry medium bodied wines with high acidity. Flavours of green fruit, citrus and stone fruit. Widely planted in the Veneto region and its most important grape in Soave DOC and Soave Classico DOC, fermented in inert vessels, not matured in oak. Should be drunk young. Recioto di Soave DOCG is a sweet white wine made from grapes harvested and dried using the appassimento method.

Verdicchio
Produces dry wines with high acidity medium body and flavours of green fruit, citrus and herbal notes. Simple fruity wines for young drinking. Outstanding examples can develop honey and nuts flavours in the bottle. Widely planted in central Italy particularly in the Marche region on the east coast. Most famous wine is Verdicchio die Castelli di JesI DOC.

Fiano
Produces wines with medium acidity, medium to full body. And flavours of stone fruit and tropical fruit. Fermented typically in inert vessels but some have secondary aroma’s developed from lees contact or oak. Very good and outstanding examples can develop complex tertiary aromas in the bottle. Grown in Southern Italy. Fiano Di Avellino DOCG is a wine from the mountainous region of Campania.