History and Terroir

Based in the quaint village of Rabajà, Giuseppe Cortese founded his eponymous estate back in 1971. A native to Barbaresco, Giuseppe had long been passionate about the region and its potential, thus decided to build his business on purchasing vineyards rather than grapes—and in turn, keep all production at the winery focused on estate-grown fruit. In 1990, Giuseppe’s son, Pier Carlo, joined him at the winery, keeping the business just how Giuseppe imagined it: all in the family. Today, the estate comprises a modest eight hectares of vines, which are cultivated organically and situated in the prestigious Rabajà cru.

Farming and Winemaking

Come harvest, all fruit is meticulously sorted so as to ensure that only the best clusters make their way into the bottle. A traditional approach to vinification is implemented, including native yeast fermentations and long periods of aging in a combination of French and Slavonian oak vessels. Like many traditional Piedmontese wineries, the Cortese’s cellar is located underground. Each cuvée is vinified based on its own individual needs, hence the variety of vessels (oak, steel, concrete) found in the cellar. The resulting wines are transparent, balanced, and marked by a beautiful balance and depth—in other words, undeniably Cortese.