Colli Tortonesi (Alessandria) and its wines

I Colli Tortonesi are a striking wine district in the south-eastern part of the Piedmont, in the province of Alessandria, on the border with Lombardy and the Liguria. This breezy hill country is famous for having given new life to one of the rarest and most appreciated white grape varieties in Italy: Timorasso.

Thanks to the limestone-marl soils, an average altitude of between 250 and 400 m above sea level and an Apennine microclimate, the wines of the Colli Tortonesi stand out for finesse, structure and ageing capacity, both in indigenous and international whites and reds.

What is the Colli Tortonesi wine district?

The area falls within the Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) "Colli Tortonesi", divided into several sub-zones and geographical mentions:

• Colli Tortonesi Timorasso DOC → Devoted to white wine from Timorasso, also in the Derthona version.

• Colli Tortonesi Barbera DOC, Croatina, Dolcetto → For local reds.

• Colli Tortonesi Cortese DOC → For fresh, light whites.

The subzone Derthona has become a byword for the the revival of Timorasso, thanks to growers such as Walter Massa, who believed in the potential of this almost vanished indigenous grape variety.

Characteristics of Colli Tortonesi Wines

Colour

• Whites (Timorasso): Straw yellow with golden highlights in the aged wines.

• Reds: Lively ruby red in the young wines; garnet with age.

Aromas

• Fruity: Apple, peach and apricot in the Timorasso; red fruit and plum in the Barbera and Dolcetto.

• Floral: White flowers in the whites; violet in the young reds.

• Mineral and Evolved: Notes of petrol, honey and hazelnut in aged Timorasso; leather and spices in the aged reds.

Palate

• Structured and Long-lived: Timorasso has body, freshness and ageing potential.

• Fruity and Tannic: Barbera and Croatina come across as intense but balanced.

• Fresh and Direct: Dolcettos and Corteses offer nimble, everyday drinking.

Typical Grape Varieties of the Colli Tortonesi

White Grape Varieties

• Timorasso (Derthona): Structured, mineral, excellent for ageing.

• Cortese: Light, floral, fresh.

Black Grape Varieties

• Barbera: Fruity, with good acidity.

• Croatina: Full-bodied and tannic, often used in blends.

• Dolcetto: Lighter and easier-drinking.

Why Choose a Wine from the Colli Tortonesi?

A wine from the Colli Tortonesi is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a sense of place, authenticity and tradition-rooted innovation. From Timorasso-Derthona, a powerful meditation white, to the rustic, straightforward reds, these wines pair with Piedmontese cured meats, braised meats, white truffle, risotto and aged cheeses.