Chicken Enchiladas and Tomatillo Sauce paired with Gavi made from the Cortese grape, one of Italy’s prominent white grape varieties. The Gavi DOCG, the most important appellation for the Cortese grape, lies in the southeast corner of Piemonte in the province of Alessandria. A small area of the DOCG borders Liguria to the south. According to “The Oxford Companion to Wine,” by Jancis Robinson, “Gavi was initially produced to serve the fish restaurants of Genoa and the Liguria coast.” While Gavi is an excellent pairing with fish, I paired the Picollo Ernesto Gavi del Comune di Gavi Rovereto with Chicken Enchiladas and Tomatillo Sauce.
Cortese (kort-tay-zay)
Where is it Grown
Cortese is primarily grown in Italy’s Piemonte in the Gavi DOCG surrounding the town of Gavi; it is the most important appellation for the Cortese grape. Other appellations in Piemonte that grow Cortese include: Cortese dell’Alto Monferrato DOC, Colli Tortonesi DOC, and Piemonte DOC. Small plantings can be found outside of Italy in Australia, New Zealand, and California. (IdleWild Wines is a favorite California winery producing Piemonte-inspired wines, including Cortese.)
What is the Style and Flavor Profile
Cortese is generally dry, high acidity, and light-bodied. The flavor profile includes: lemon, lime, apple, melon, peaches, pears, minerals, almonds, and herbs.
What Foods Pair well with Cortese
Seafood, pesto, citrus or basil vinaigrette salads, light chicken and pasta dishes, and appetizers. Cortese’s acidity, lemon/lime, and mineral notes perfectly pair with seafood. The acidity and freshness of Cortese make it an overall food-friendly wine for food pairings or as an aperitif.
Picollo Ernesto Winery
Picollo Ernesto Winery was established in 1945 by Lorenzo Picollo. The property is situated among the hills surrounding the town of Gavi in southeastern Piemonte. The climate is more Mediterranean with maritime breezes than the northern part of Piemonte. The estate vineyards are 260 meters above sea level in Rovereto Gavi, a prestigious appellation area, with clay and rich marl soils, dry climate, and full sun exposure; an environment in which Cortese thrives. Over the years, the winemaking and daily management were passed down to Lorenzo’s son, Ernesto. The estate is currently in the hands of Gianlorenzo, Ernesto’s son and third generation.
My Wine Tasting Notes
2024 Picollo Ernesto Gavi, Del Comune di Gavi Revereto
13% abv | $19.99 | 100% Cortese
Pale straw in color with bright citrus aromas. On the palate medium bodied with medium (+) acidity. Notes of lemon, green apple, pear, minerality, and hints of almond and herbs on the finish.
The grapes were manually harvested from vineyards with mostly southern exposure. No pesticides or herbicides are used in the vineyards. The grapes were gently pressed with a pneumatic press in a controlled environment without the presence of oxygen. Fermentation is in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
My Food Pairing
Chicken Enchiladas and Tomatillo Sauce have the weight, richness, and fresh flavors to pair with Picollo Ernesto Gavi del Comune di Gavi Rovereto. The acidity in the wine works well with the fresh, tart tomatillo sauce and cuts through the richness of the cheese. The 13% abv matches the weight of the chicken enchiladas. The recipe is from Eating Well – Chicken and Tomatillo Enchiladas Recipe.
Sources Used:
Picollo Ernesto Winery
Volio Imports
Wine Scholar Guild
Ahh Jane you always make everything look and sound so delicious!