Source: http://www.consorziogavi.com/index.php/en/gavi-docg-eng/il-disciplinare-eng
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:28:34+00:00

Document:
The “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” controlled and guaranteed designation of origin, already recognized as a controlled designation of origin by the Presidential Decree of 26 June 1974, is reserved for white wines meeting the conditions and requirements laid down in this product specifications.
“Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” Riserva Spumante metodo classico (sparkling reserve classic method).
The “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” controlled and guaranteed designation of origin with the specification “tranquillo”, “frizzante”, “spumante”, “Riserva” and “Spumante Riserva metodo classico” is reserved for wines obtained from grapes coming from production vineyards consisting exclusively of Cortese vines.
the line reaches the junction to Francavilla Bisio, and continuing along the road Capriata d'Orba-Francavilla, it reaches the hamlet of Francavilla Bisio. It then follows a short section of the road Francavilla Bisio-Basaluzzo up to the junction with the road leading to Pasturana in località Madonnetta. It follows such road towards Pasturana, up to the bridge over the Rio Riasco; it then follows the course of such river, upstream, until it reaches the bridge over the Tassarolo-Novi Ligure road. It then runs along the road Tassarolo-Novi Ligure up to the junction with the road Gavi-Novi Ligure and it then follows such road up to the junction with Via Egidio Raggio in the town of Novi Ligure.
The environmental and cultivation conditions for vines destined for “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” controlled and guaranteed designation of origin wine production shall be the usual ones for the area, and in any event they shall be able to confer to the grapes and the deriving wine their specific characteristics. Consequently, only hillside vineyards situated in the right position and orientation are to be considered suitable, as shall be considered suitable only the soils made of limestone, clay and marl, with the exception of flat and damp down-valley soils. The planting distances, the growing methods and pruning system shall be those generally used, and in any event they shall not affect the characteristics of the grapes and wine. The new plantings and replantings shall have a density of at least 3,300 plants per hectare. The maximum yield of grapes per hectare of vineyards in specialized crops intended for the production of “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi”, “tranquillo”, “frizzante”, “spumante” wine shall not exceed 9,5 tonnes; for the above-mentioned types that use the term”vigna” ( “vineyard”), the maximum grape yield per hectare shall not exceed 8.50 tonnes; the maximum yield per hectare for vineyards in specialized crops intended for the production of “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi”, “Riserva” and “Riserva Spumante metodo classico” shall not exceed 6.50 tonnes. Subject to the above maximum amounts, the maximum yield per hectare in mixed crops shall be calculated in relation to the actual area covered by the vine.
D.O.C.G. “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” wines shall observe the above limits, subject to the grape yield/wine limit provided in the following article, as long as the total production does not exceed 20% of the limit itself; beyond such amount, the right to controlled and guaranteed designation of origin ceases for the entire production.
The maximum yield in finished wine shall not be higher than 70%. Where it exceeds such limit, but not 75%, the excess amount will not bear a right to D.O.C.G.. Beyond 75% , the right to D.O.C.G. will cease for the entire production.
Having heard the opinion of the interested parties, the Piedmont regional authority may modify year-on-year, by its own decree, prior to the harvest, the maximum grape production limit per hectare for controlled and guaranteed designation of origin “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” wines to an amount lower than the one set by these specifications, by giving immediate notice to the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies.
The grapes intended for wine-making shall ensure to controlled and guaranteed designation of origin “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” wines a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 11.00% vol. for the “Riserva” and “Riserva Spumante metodo classico” types; 9.50% vol. for the tranquillo and frizzante types and 9.00% vol. for the spumante type. For these latter types, grapes intended for the production of wines using the term “vigna” (“vineyard”) shall have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10.50% vol.
The batches of grapes intended for the Riserva type shall be separately registered and declared; where the wine is subject to sparkling process, it is possible to reclassify from “Gavi” Riserva to “Gavi” Spumante Riserva following the declaration. The batches of grapes destined for the production of “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” “spumante” that do not reach 9.50% vol. shall be separately registered and declared.
In view of the market situation, the Region may, at the request of the Consortium, and after hearing the representations of the different parties included in the chain, decide to suspend or temporarily regulate the registrations of vineyards for newly planted vineyards with a potential for increased production.
Wine-making operations for controlled and guaranteed designations of origin “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” must be carried out within the production area as defined by art. 3.
Wine-making only allows for open and consistent production processes, aimed at giving the wines their peculiar characteristics.
The “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” “Riserva” type of wines bearing a protected designation of origin involves one year of aging, of which six months in the bottle; the aging period runs from October 15th after the harvest until October 14th of the following year; the placing on the market is permitted from November 1st of the year following the harvest.
Bottling operations for controlled and guaranteed designation of origin “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” “Reserva” and “Riserva Spumante metodo classico” wines must be carried out within the production area as defined by art. 3.
Pursuant to art. 8 of the CE Reg. no. 607/2009, bottling or conditioning must take place within the geographical area as delimited above, in order to safeguard quality, to guarantee provenance and to ensure the effectiveness of controls. In order to safeguard the pre-established rights of the subjects who have traditionally carried out the bottling out the defined production area, individual authorizations are provided for, subject to the conditions set out in Article 10, paragraph 3 and 4 of Legislative Decree no. 61/2010 (Annex 1).
The wine types “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” “Riserva Spumante metodo classico” bearing controlled and guaranteed designation of origin require two years of aging starting from October 15th after the harvest, of which eighteen months with yeasts inside the bottle.
The increase in the alcoholic strength by volume of the must or of the new wine still in fermentation, intended for the production of “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” DOCG wines, shall be obtained from concentrated grape must from the Cortese vineyards grown in the area referred to in art. 3, registered in the register of “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” controlled and guaranteed designation of origin vineyards, or from rectified concentrated must.
The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies has the right to modify, by its own decree, the wines covered by these specifications and the aforementioned limits for total acidity and sugar-free extract.
In relation to possible storage in wood containers, the taste of “Tranquillo”, “Riserva” and “Riserva Spumante metodo classico” types of “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” wine may reveal woody tones.
1) In the presentation and designation of controlled and guaranteed designation of origin “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” wines, the addition of any qualification other than those provided by these specifications, including the adjectives “extra”, “fine”, “scelto” (“preferred”), “selezionato” (“selected”) and the like is prohibited. It is permitted to use indications referring to names, company names, private labels with no laudatory purpose and not likely to mislead the buyer.
2) For the “tranquillo”, “frizzante” and “spumante” types, it is permitted to use additional geographic and topographical indications referring to the municipalities and hamlets listed in the annex to these specifications and to the farms, areas and sites of actual origin of the grapes from which the wines have been obtained, provided that the regulations in force are observed.
…”, possibly followed by the name of the hamlet, provided that the grapes come from such territory.
3) In the name of the wines bearing the “Gavi” or “Cortese di Gavi” controlled designation of origin referred to in Article 1, the term “vineyard” may be used, provided that it is followed by its place name or traditional name, that the wine is produced and stored in separate containers and that such mention is indicated both in the declaration of the grapes and in the registers and accompanying documents and that it appears in the appropriate regional list in accordance with art. 6, paragraph 8 of Legislative Decree no. 61/2010.
4) For the “Riserva” and “Riserva Spumante metodo classico” types it is forbidden to use geographical indications referring to municipalities, hamlets and sites, and it is compulsory to use the term “vineyard”, provided that it is followed by the relevant place name or traditional name, and that the wine is produced and stored in separate containers and that such mention is indicated both in the declaration of the grapes and in the registers and accompanying documents and that it appears in the appropriate regional list in accordance with art. 6, paragraph 8 of Legislative Decree no. 61/2010.
5) The term “vineyard” shall appear on the label bearing fonts with a size less than or equal to 50% of the font size used for the D.O.C.G. Gavi.
6) For the “tranquillo” type, the grape production vintage shall be indicated on the label. For the “Spumante classico metodo” type, the date of disgorging shall be indicated on the label, whereas the indication of the year of vintage is optional.
7) For “Gavi” o “Cortese di Gavi” Riserva Spumante metodo classico D.O.C.G. wine, the date of disgorging shall be indicated on the label, as well as the indication of the year of vintage.
The delimited geographical area lies in the extreme south-eastern point of Piedmont, a physical and geological border hosting large plains and mountains, floodplains and outcrops from ancient times, where the lush “Gavi” and “Cortese of Gavi” vineyards are cultivated.
From the geological point of view, the soil includes three different layers: red soil and an alternation of marl and sandstone. In the southern part there is a third layer of soil which is made up of white clay marl.
The altitude of the vineyards is between 150 and 450 meter above sea level, with varying slope and general exposure to north-west and south-east.
The weather can be considered as transitional, moderately continental, characterized by long and harsh winters, with fairly more frequent and abundant snowfalls towards the southern Apennines; in contrast, the summer season is cooler and more ventilated compared to the nearby lower valley of the Po river. The Gavi, intended both as territory and wine, expresses peculiar soil and climate conditions that increase its charm, as well as enriching the flavours and scents that the wine inherits from such soil.
B) Information on the quality or characteristics of the product essentially or exclusively attributable to the geographic environment.
The Cortese di Gavi is an indigenous vine variety with an ancient and proven origin from the area, resulting in the acclimatization and adaptation of the vine to the local soils and climate over the centuries.
- the forms of cultivation, also for new plants, are the traditional ones, and they mainly include the Guyot system, which is typical of quality viticulture.
C) Description of the random interaction between the items referred to at letter A) and those referred to at letter B). The hilly terrain of the production area, in the south-eastern part of the province of Alessandria, the prevalent exposure to north-west south-east, as well as the slope inclination that increases close to the Apennines, contribute to provide a particularly well-suited environment for to the cultivation of the “Gavi docg” vineyards. The down-valley terrains are actually excluded from the area, as they are not suited for quality viticulture.
In particular, the alternation between clay marls - locally called “white soils” - and “red soils” characterized by brown, leached and hydromorphic frangipani soils, define its richness, providing multiple nuances to cortese vines.
These lands badly lend themselves to the intensive growing of other crops (also due to their position); but precisely due to such characteristics they are suitable for quality viticulture with low production yields, giving the wines a particular strength and complexity.
The ancient grape-growing and wine-making heritage of the Designation territory, as attested by numerous documents, is the groundwork of the indissoluble interaction between human factors and the peculiar quality features of the “Gavi docg”. Vine cultivation techniques have been handed down over the centuries, rooting the wine-making culture deep in the territory and making of the Gavi docg the primary source of income for the designated area, as well as the common thread that connects the 11 municipalities of the Designation. Born for the courts, this wine has never betrayed its vocation to quality and elegance, on the contrary the latter have been honed in modern times through state-of-the-art techniques, as to obtain a wine renowned and appreciated in the 5 continents, whose peculiar characteristics are described in Article 6 of these specifications.
Valoritalia is the supervisory body authorized by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies pursuant to Article 13 of Legislative Decree no. 61/2010 (Annex 1), which carries out the annual compliance audit in accordance to the provisions of these specifications, pursuant to Article 25, par. 1, subparagraph 1, letter a) and c), and to article 26 of CE Reg. no. 607/2009, for DOP products, through systematic controls throughout the entire production chain (viticulture, processing, packaging) in accordance with the aforementioned Article 25 par. 1, subparagraph 2, letter c).
In particular, such audit is carried out according to a pre-defined control plan, approved by the Ministry in accordance with the model approved by the Ministerial Decree of 2 November 2010, published in the OJ no. 271 of 19-11-2010 (Annex 2).

References: art. 3
 art. 3
 art. 8
 art. 3
 art. 6
 art. 6