Principessa Gavia
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2024
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh seafood and shellfish, delicate pasta dishes with basil pesto, and light appetizers such as goat cheese or prosciutto with melon.
✨ Technical Specifications
Named after the legendary 6th-century French princess who fled to Piedmont to marry her beloved against her royal father's wishes, Banfi's Principessa Gavia is a beautiful tribute to romance and local heritage. Crafted entirely from the Cortese grape in the prestigious Gavi DOCG region of Piedmont, this classic white wine reflects the unique maritime-influenced microclimate of Novi Ligure. The vineyards thrive on clay and limestone soils, imparting a distinct mineral backbone to the wine. To preserve its vibrant, delicate character, the juice undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks, completely avoiding oak contact. The result is an elegant, straw-colored wine bursting with aromas of white peach, green apple, and citrus, underscored by a subtle floral bouquet and a crisp, refreshing finish.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani alongside consulting enologist Ezio Rivella, Banfi transformed the viticultural landscape of southern Tuscany. Centered around the medieval fortress of Castello di Poggio alle Mura in Montalcino, the estate spans over 2,800 hectares, with approximately one-third under vine. The soils present a complex mosaic of calcareous clay, sand, and marine deposits along the Orcia and Ombrone river valleys, exposed to warm Mediterranean breezes and balanced diurnal shifts. Pioneers of rigorous Sangiovese clonal zoning, Banfi has expanded beyond Montalcino into classic regions across Tuscany and Piedmont. Certified sustainable under the Equalitas standard, the producer combines technological precision with meticulous parcel selection. While renowned globally for benchmark Brunello di Montalcino, Banfi exhibits equal dexterity across diverse white and sparkling expressions, ranging from traditional-method Alta Langa and Cuvée Aurora sparkling cuvées to coastal Vermentino like La Pettegola and crisp, mineral-inflected Cortese from Piedmont.
🍇 Grapes
100% Cortese