Colli Tortonesi
Colli Tortonesi is a small DOC wine zone in southeastern Piedmont, surrounding the town of Tortona in the province of Alessandria. The area features rolling hills with diverse soils (calcareous clay to sandy) and a climate influenced by both continental and maritime factors, creating favorable conditions for the cultivation of both international and local grape varieties. While international varieties like Barbera and Cortese are grown here, Colli Tortonesi is most notably the homeland of the indigenous Timorasso grape, which produces distinctive, mineral-rich white wines with remarkable aging potential.
Wines from Colli Tortonesi
Walter Massa Terra Rosso
Walter Massa is something of a legend in Italian wine circles – he single-handedly rescued the Timorasso grape from extinction and has been championing native varieties of the Colli Tortonesi area for decades. His Terra Rosso blend showcases the traditional red grapes of southeastern Piedmont in a wine that's authentically Italian to its core. This isn't one of those internationally-styled Italian reds designed to impress critics – it's a genuine expression of place that prioritizes drinkability and food-friendliness over power and flash. The blend of Barbera, Croatina, and Freisa creates a wine with bright acidity, moderate tannins, and that distinctively Italian combination of fruit and savory elements. It's the kind of honest, unpretentious wine that Italians keep for themselves rather than export – which makes finding it outside Italy all the more special.
Terra Vigneti Massa
Walter Massa is essentially the savior of the Timorasso grape – a variety that was nearly extinct until he championed its revival in the 1980s. His 'Terra' bottling showcases why this was a variety worth saving, delivering a white wine with the complexity and aging potential usually reserved for serious reds. From the hills of southeastern Piedmont, this is a white wine with gravitas – structured, mineral-driven, and built for the dinner table rather than casual sipping. Timorasso has been called 'the Barolo of white wines,' which might sound like hyperbole until you taste it. With its combination of richness and acidity, it manages to be both immediately impressive and increasingly intriguing with each sip. If you're tired of predictable whites, this bottle offers a fascinating detour into Italian wine history that happens to taste amazing.