Despite the extraordinarily difficult circumstances that affected catering and viticulture, Piedmont's producers showed that they know how to fight. Some, like Flavio Roddolo, postponed bottling, and so you won't find him in this edition. The results, however, on the whole, are remarkable, and every year it becomes more and more difficult to limit the number of Tre Bicchieri awarded. 2016, hailed as a vintage for the ages for Nebbiolo, lived up to its promise, with no less than 29 wines out of 32 earning recognition. Of these 29 Tre Bicchieri, 25 are Barolos, 2 are Barbarescos and 2 come from Upper Piedmont. The greatness of 2016's Barolo, widely known, was attested to by some 32 Tre Bicchieri. As quality grows, especially in the most prestigious appellations, our work becomes more and more difficult. With 45 Tre Bicchieri out of a regional total of 75, Nebbiolo continues to reign supreme. Beyond Nebbiolo: the other cultivars in Piedmont The extreme southern corner of Piedmont is a physical and geological frontier where the great plain and the mountains, alluvial soils and outcrops of remote ages meet. From a geological point of view, the Gavi land is divided into three bands, which influence the characteristics of the wine and of the landscape. Il Gavi del Comune di Gavi La Toledana è il frutto di oltre un secolo d’esperienza nella coltivazione del vitigno Cortese. È il bianco piemontese più famoso, che nasce in una terra di confine, dal clima influenzato dalle brezze del mare. Il suo successo è stato decretato proprio dalla vicinanza con la Liguria, che ha trovato in questo vino un compagno ideale per i piatti tipici della sua cucina di mare. La profonda conoscenza del territorio e dell’uva, hanno permesso di raggiungere ottimi livelli qualitativi, che si esprimono in un calice raffinato. È un bianco floreale, sapido e fruttato, tutto giocato sui toni della delicatezza aromatica e dell’eleganza. The 16th century Castello is one of the few noble residences of "Genoese" origin. In this area, still subject to the climatic influence of the nearby Ligurian coast, Gian Battista Cambiaso planted the first documented Cortese vines and produced the first dry white wine of this region. Gavi di Gavi from the hands of the Martini family The estate covers about 25 hectares of vineyards, where only the regionally typical Cortese grape is cultivated for Gavi di Gavi wine. Amazing is the variety of soils that alternate among the vineyards. Thus, grapes from one plot express intense mineral accents, while another reveals fresh fruity notes. Something that all the vines have in common is the high level of care required, so that the yield of the Cortese grape variety can be reduced. Only in this way can the top level of quality for Gavi wines be created and the harmony of

The red soils originated from the ironing out of the gravels mixed with clay of ancient alluvial deposits. They are located north of Gavi, toward Tassarolo and Novi Ligure. Here, the hills are more gentle and the vineyards alternate with oak and locust woods. The tradition for fresh pasta, which has ancient origins in this area, also brings to the table taglierini and lasagnette also called " stringoni" and " corzetti", dressed, depending on the season, with game, mushrooms, tomato or pesto. Today the Martini family runs the estate, which is surrounded on all sides by vineyards. Despite the close proximity of the vineyards, the Cortese grapes produced here differ in their characteristics. Thus, vintage after vintage is puzzled anew, which grapes finally come in the Gavi DOCG wine. Experience shows, however, that the Martini family knows the solution to the ever-recurring riddle and presses one of the best Gavi di Gavi wines from Piedmont. The central strip which emerges on a line that joins Serravalle Scrivia to Gavi and San Cristoforo, sees an alternation of marl and sandstone. These are the lands of Monterotondo and the vineyards at the foot of the beautiful forest of Mount Mesima.