Mille951 Gavi del Comune di Gavi, Produttori del Gavi, Piedmont

Gavi is northern Italy's classic crisp white, made from the Cortese grape in Piedmont. This one comes from Produttori del Gavi, a growers' co-operative founded in 1951 that brings together local families farming the vineyards around the town of Gavi - the name "Mille951" is a nod to that founding year. What sets it apart is the label on the bottle: this is a "Gavi del Comune di Gavi," the stricter classification, meaning the grapes come from the township of Gavi itself - the heart of the region - rather than the wider area. The fruit comes off old vines on the area's pale, limestone-rich soils, and the wine is made in stainless steel to keep it fresh and clean. The result is light, dry and refreshing, with green apple, pear and a little white peach, a touch of something floral, and a crisp, lively finish. An easy, food-friendly white to drink young and well chilled, around 8-10°C.