Heading to the Gavi region here in Piemonte is about as close as you’ll get to english gentry here in the “bel Paese!” Whilst Gavi is officially in Piemonte it is in fact closely aligned with Genova and was and continues to be a place where the Genovese aristocrats had their country manors. So a short drive from Genova inland to the rolling hill of Gavi you come across vine filled hillsides dotted with lovely, HUGE country houses.
We headed to Broglia as I had heard that the Gavi from this producer was very good and it had recently been featured high in the Wine Spectator. Greeted in the “drawing room” of this stately manor we observed photographs of the owners hunting collection as we waited to be met by the current owner Dr Gian Piero Broglia. Dressed in his hunting cloths of tweeds and corduroy he seemed more english than Italian…until he spoke of course. yes hunting was a passion up there with his wine he told us. He went on to give us a detailed and incredibly interesting history of the area and explaining the close association to the Genvoese and thus the development of a wine that suited the Mediterranean diet of seafood instead of the hearty meat dishes of Piemonte. We went on to taste the range of wines from the the sparkling spumante to the Gavi Bruno Broglia made from vines planted in 1953. We were incredibly impressed by the freshness and palate of these wines and happily discussed heading back to the winery again on our tours as well as collaborating by importing some of the wines into Oz with Experienceit wines. As we made our way to lunch in our rear vision micro we saw Dr Gian Piero driving off to his lunch appointment..in what car??…A range rover of course!
