La Scolca

At the foot of the Apennine mountains - and the name Piedmont doesn't mean anything else - lies the winery La Scolca, which is justifiably the oldest and most famous winery in the Gavi region. 

La Scolca - Gavi wine 

Since 1919, the winegrowers of La Scolca have been the first to create pure white wine from the Cortese grape with the name Gavi. Careful vinification improved the quality and crowned the success in 1966 with the creation of the celebrated Gavi dei Gavi "Etichetta Nera", with which Vittorio Soldati made himself and the La Scolca winery internationally popular.

Gavi DOCG wines from La Scolca 

The Gavi wine and the La Scolca winery are inseparable. As a forerunner in the Gavi region, the meteoric rise of Gavi wine is based on the Soldati family, whose grandfather bought wheat-growing land in Rovereto a hundred years ago. Contrary to the prevailing opinion that only red grape varieties could be cultivated here, the Cortese grape varieties were cultivated. Since 1950 the Gavi from the Cortese grape has been celebrating resounding successes, which were rewarded with DOCG status in 1998. As early as 1993, the La Scolca winery founded the Tutela del Gavi consortium to protect and promote the reputation of Gavi di Gavi wine. Today, many Gavi winegrowers are members of the Consortium - further proof of the foresight of the La Scolca Winery. 

The language of the labels

• A white label indicates that La Scolca wine is made from 20 year old vines.
• A black label means that the wine comes from 60 year old vines. 
• The Gavi DOCG appendix indicates that the wine meets the high quality standards of the Tutela del Gavi and can therefore be officially marketed as wine from Gavi.

The La Scolca winery

The watchtower belonging to the winery also offers a view far across the country. Approximately 50 hectares of Cortese vines - the grape variety for Gavi wine - bask in the sun from morning to evening and enjoy the sea air. On the rows of vines, up to 200 kilometres long, the consistently high quality begins, because La Scolca knows that the best wines come from the best grapes. Up to 10 times per vintage the workers wander through the vineyard, cutting, thinning out, reducing the yield. If necessary, a green harvest takes place before the fully ripe grapes make their way to the modern cellar. This is where the characteristic, accessible and intense white wines are produced, which are later allowed to carry the Gavi DOCG label. Fresh, fruity and elegant, the wines from Tenuta La Scolca are all excellent, but the Gavi dei Gavi stands out. 

Gavi dei Gavi from La Scolca

If the small town of Gavi were to introduce appellations based on the French model, Rovereto would be a "Grand Cru" for Cortese. This is where the best grapes for Gavi dei Gavi white wine, also known as Etichetta Nera or Black Label, thrive. As an accompaniment to many dishes, the wine has already made appearances in illustrious circles with the stars and starlets of our time. No wonder, given the exuberant elegant harmony that Gavi dei Gavi wine exudes. The black label not only bears the coat of arms of the Soldati family, but also refers to the 60-year-old vines that are the source of the wine. The highest quality wines are only produced in places where the grapes find ideal conditions and harmony with the soil and climate, so that each glass of Gavi dei Gavi is full of aromas and juicy flavours.  

More wines from La Scolca

Apart from the famous Gavi dei Gavi, La Scolca of course has more up its sleeve. 

• Valentino white wine made from 100% Cortese grapes from young vines with a rich acidity.
• Villa Scolca - a full-bodied wine from 15 to 20 year old Cortese vines.
• Gavi La Scolca wine from the vineyards near Rovereto, the "Grand Cru" for Cortese grapes.
• Pinot Nero red wine following the Bordeaux example.
• Rosa Chiara Rosé wine with animating play of colours and fruity taste of strawberry.
• Various sparkling wines from the Cortese grape variety.