Typical Products of the Langhe > Wine > Vines > Cortese vine

The fine wines of the Langhe > Vines > Cortese vine

Bianca Fernanda vine in the Veronese. Cortesone vine, sometimes mixed with the Cortese type, corresponds to Favorita vine.

Geographical location

It is very much cultivated in Piedmont, in the province of Asti, on the right side of the river Tanaro, and in the province of Alessandria, especially in the Novese (Gavi) and Tortonese, but it is also present in the province of Cuneo and in the low Belbo valley. It is still cultivated in the Pavese, in Western Veneto and, sporadically, in other Italian regions and also overseas. 

Morphological characters

Bud: greenish white, with slightly rosy edges, cotton apex. Greenish white, with rosy edges, inferiorly cottoned, apical leaves (1-3). Greenish white, inferiorly lanuginose, often with a tooth in the central womb, basal leaves (4-5).
Adult leaf: of medium or medium-large size, cuneiform or pentagonal, tri- or five-lobed, according to the clones; U- or V-shaped central womb, often with a tooth; lyre-shaped superior lateral wombs (often with a small tooth) or, in clones with less accentuated leaves, V-shaped; more or less profound U- or V-shaped inferior lateral wombs. The dark green border has a bubbly surface, a cup-shaped profile and slightly contort lobes. The teeth are medium-pronounced, irregular in rectilinear margins. The inferior page has an arachnoidal tomentosity on the border and a slight bristlyness at the main nervation level. 
Ripened grape: of medium or medium-small size, according to the clones, cylindrical or pyramidal, with one or two short wings, short, compact; short green peduncle; 
Acinus: medium-small (1,6 g), short ellipsoidal (d.e./d.l.=0,93); very much pruinose greenish yellow, with a golden-grey shade (when exposed to the sun), peel. 

Phenology

Germination: medium (second decade of April). 
Flowering: medium (between the first and the second decade of June). 
Turning to dark colour: medium (second decade of August). 
Grape maturation: medium (within the end of September.

Cultural attitudes and utilization

Vigour: high, its buds develop rapidly and sometimes they are fragile; its vegetation is flourishing. 
Fertility and production: high and constant; its basal gems are productive as well as its “femminelle”. 
Plant-culture and pruning: it is suitable for several types of plant-cultures and pruning, from the counter-espalier with Guyot pruning (a capo fruiting 12 or more gems) or rammed cord, with high and more expanded forms, generally less suitable for obtaining the best qualitative results. 
Multiplication behaviour: it is good with most grafts; moderately vigorous grafts are advisable. 
Susceptibility to adversities and phytopathy: it is generally little tolerant to oidium both on the grape and shoot; the grape delicate peel makes it susceptible to mechanical damages or parasite attacks. 
Oenological attitudes: tranquil wines, sometime fresh and light, or with a higher structure, personality and elegance, are obtained from Cortese grapes; rarely sparkling wines. 

Clones:

Cortese      Cs      -      V      -      18
Cortese      R2
Cortese      R3

DOC Langa wines which are obtained from this vine:

Cortese wine

All rights reserved - for information: info@saporidilanga.com