Terre di Sarizzola Derthona Colle Tortonesi Timorassso DOC

Wine overview: A structured, age-worthy white made entirely from Timorasso, the historic white grape of the Tortona hills. Terre di Sarizzola’s Derthona combines ripe orchard fruit with savoury herbal complexity, pronounced minerality and the naturally firm acidity associated with the variety. “Derthona” is the ancient Roman name for Tortona and is used collectively by producers to identify wines made from Timorasso in the Colli Tortonesi.ProducerTerre di Sarizzola is a small agricultural estate in Sarizzola, a hamlet of Costa Vescovato in the province of Alessandria. The property is operated by Mattia Bellinzona and traces its agricultural history to Pietro Penacca, who cultivated vineyards in Sarizzola during the second half of the 19th century.The estate directly farms its vineyards and combines wine production with traditional livestock farming and the production of artisanal salumi. Its vineyards are cultivated under organic practices, reflecting the estate’s emphasis on mixed farming and stewardship of the land. Grape variety100% Timorasso Timorasso is a thick-skinned, relatively low-yielding white variety native to the Tortona hills. Although nearly abandoned during the 20th century, it has been revived as one of Piedmont’s most distinctive white grapes.The variety typically produces concentrated, firmly structured wines with bright acidity and pronounced mineral and savoury qualities. Young wines may show citrus, pear, peach and floral notes. With bottle age, Timorasso frequently develops notes of honey, wax, dried herbs, chamomile, hydrocarbon and nuts while retaining its underlying freshness. AppellationColli Tortonesi Timorasso DOC The Colli Tortonesi DOC covers the hills surrounding Tortona in southeastern Piedmont, close to the borders with Lombardy, Liguria and Emilia-Romagna. The area occupies a transitional landscape between the Po Valley and the northern Apennines.The combination of elevation, ventilation, substantial day-to-night temperature shifts and marl-rich soils helps Timorasso retain acidity while achieving considerable flavour and phenolic maturity.Vineyard and terroirSoil: calcareous marl with siltVine density: approximately 4,500 vines per hectareTraining: GuyotVineyard management: cluster thinning; vineyards cultivated under organic conversion/practicesHarvest: manually harvested into small casesExact vineyard elevation: not disclosedVineyard aspect: not disclosedVine age: not disclosedThe calcareous component contributes to the wine’s tension and savoury profile, while marl and silt provide sufficient water retention to support the vines through the warm, relatively dry growing season.

Producer wine information

Vinification and maturation Fermentation: temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanksMaturation: on the fine fermentation lees in stainless steelLees management: periodic bâtonnageOak: none disclosedBottling: no earlier than one year following the harvestBottle development: the producer recommends extended bottle maturationLees ageing and bâtonnage give the wine additional weight and texture without obscuring Timorasso’s mineral and acidic structure.Analytical informationAlcohol: 13.5%Total acidity: not disclosedpH: not disclosedResidual sugar: not disclosedBottle size: 750 mlTasting notesA deep straw-yellow wine with aromas of ripe yellow peach, loquat, poached pear and apricot, followed by chamomile, lemon peel, thyme, sage and a subtle balsamic or menthol quality. The palate is full-bodied and textural, with concentrated yellow fruit balanced by energetic acidity and pronounced saline minerality. The finish is dry, savoury and persistent, with citrus, herbs and a lightly phenolic grip.The 2023 has been described as generous and multidimensional, with ripe yellow fruit, Mediterranean herbs, vivid freshness and considerable evolutionary potential. Derthona 2023 previewService and food pairingRecommended serving temperature: 12–14°CGlassware: large white-wine or universal glassDecanting: optional; 20–30 minutes may benefit a young bottleDrinking window: now through approximately 2031, with potential for longer development under proper storage. Pair with rich seafood, grilled swordfish, lobster, roast poultry, veal, mushroom risotto, tajarin with butter and sage, mature cheeses or the classic Piemontese pairing of anchovies with salsa verde.