From: Piedmont, Italy
Varietal: Cortese
Critical Acclaim: Wine Advocate WA 91
The nicely balanced Enrico Serafino 2021 Gavi del Comune di Gavi Grifo del Quartaro is fragrant and floral with star jasmine and acacia followed by orchard fruit, citrus and salty mineral. The wine is thin and crisp with enough tonic energy to pair with fried shrimp or calamari.
August 11, 2022
Taste: On the nose, this vibrant wine carries a wide array of delightful aromas - wildflowers, almond scents, alongside notes of white and yellow fruits such as apple, pear, white plum, and gooseberry. On the palate, the wine is fresh, dry, intense, and well-balanced. It is pleasantly fruity and smooth, boasting a good body and well-balanced acidity, culminating in a long-lasting and mineral finish. The wine expertly ensures perfect affinity between the nose and palate, a sought-after quality in wine tasting.
Pairing: Pair this wine with crowd-friendly starters (check out the recipe below!) and seafood dishes, or enjoy it as an aperitif. The wine's balance of freshness and intensity also makes it an excellent choice for sushi or sashimi. In general, Gavi pairs best with sushi, seafood risotto, grilled fish in a lemon sauce, Salade Niçoise, spaghetti and clams, shellfish, spinach salad with goat cheese, focaccia and light chicken dishes.
Clam Fritters
By Sam Sifton
About. The Italian region of Piedmont is renowned for its distinguished wines, where it takes center stage in the world of viniculture with classics like Barolo and Barbaresco. Yet, it also gives birth to a stunning white wine that holds its own against its better-known red counterparts: Gavi di Gavi. Today we delve into the heart of this region, taking a closer look at one outstanding example - the 2021 Enrico Serafino Grifo del Quartaro Gavi di Gavi.
The Winemaker and the Wine
Enrico Serafino, a prestigious winemaker, offers the "Grifo del Quartaro" as a stunning representation of Gavi di Gavi, crafted entirely from the native Cortese grape. The name Grifo del Quartaro finds its roots in an antique coin used by the Genovese Lords, vineyard land-owners of the Gavi area, further linking the wine to its historical context and territorial identity. The Gavi DOCG region, known for its sloping hills, marly, white chalky, and clay-rich earth, nurtures the Cortese vines and shapes the character of the wine. The 2021 Grifo del Quartaro Gavi di Gavi is a reflection of its terroir, embodying clear-cut character, freshness, minerality, and a complex structure.
The Accolades
The Enrico Serafino 2021 Grifo del Quartaro has garnered praise from critics. The Wine Advocate awarded it a rating of WA 91, describing the wine as being nicely balanced, fragrant, and floral, with notes of star jasmine, acacia, orchard fruit, citrus, and salty mineral, possessing enough tonic energy to pair with fried shrimp or calamari.
The Heartland: Gavi di Gavi
Gavi di Gavi, also known as Cortese di Gavi, is the white wine jewel of southern Piedmont, a region closer to Genoa than to the provincial capital Alessandria.
Although the region's winemaking and gastronomic traditions lean more towards Ligurian influences, Gavi has etched its place as Piedmont's crowning glory in white wine. In 1998, it gained DOCG status, and its vineyards are mainly found in the hills of 13 communes in the province of Alessandria, with the most prominent being Gavi, Novi Ligure, Serravalle Scrivia, and Arquata Scrivia.
The Grape: Cortese
Cortese is a white grape variety famous for its high-acidity, crisp wines, often associated with flavors of apple, peach, and honeydew, and aromas of lime, almond, and light herbal or grassy notes.
There are around 2,950 hectares of Cortese planted in Italy, with just under 90 percent found in Piedmont. Grown in Piedmont for centuries, Cortese is considered the region's finest white variety and has played a key role in introducing Italian white wine to the world.
Overall, the 2021 Enrico Serafino Grifo del Quartaro Gavi di Gavi is a fine example of how the Cortese grape can be crafted into a compelling, complex wine that remains faithful to its roots and expresses the distinctive terroir of Gavi di Gavi.