ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Since 1946 Gianluigi Bergaglio has grown Cortese on his 18 hectare estates near the town of Gavi. Nicola Bergaglio were one of the first known wineries in the now designated area to produce their own wines, not just sell their grapes off. Gianluigi was joined by his son Diego who is now the winemaker, and though both are quiet achievers, preferring to let the wines speak for themselves, it is evident that they are very proud of what they do. Cortese the grape is indigenous to this area and has not scientifically been linked to any other grape variety in the world, it is truly regional. Most of the 3000 hectares of the grape are planted around the town of Gavi in the south east of Piedmont, in the province of Alessandria, along the Lemme river. Vines are planted on hills with calcareous soil composition like most parts of Piedmont. Some of the very best sites are owned by the Bergaglios who organically farm their estates. On their hills, there is a constant breeze, generated either by the Ligurian Sea or from the Alps and nature parks to the north and west. This creates a constant shift in day and night time temperatures which helps to create an elegant and harmonious play of fruit and higher acidity in the grapes that are grown here. The Bergaglios believe in crus and site expression and pick and vinify their grapes separately into 2 unique wines. Their single vineyard Minaia site is considered by all to be one of the best in the entire region. Importer notes