After more than 25 years devoted exclusively to Piedmontese red wines, Marchesi Alfieri opens a new chapter in its history with the launch of Derthona, Colli Tortonesi doc Timorasso 2023. This decision marks a return to white wines after the brief interlude of the 1990s, born from the desire to create a wine with a strong sense of identity, capable of conveying the essence of Piedmont through a fascinating grape variety with a strong personality: Timorasso.
Timorasso: a historic grape variety with outstanding potential for evolution
“We wanted a white wine authentically Piedmontese, with structure, freshness, and great aging potential”, explains winemaker Mario Olivero, who has been the estate’s technical director since 1999.
The choice of Timorasso is intentional: a grape variety that nearly disappeared in the 20th century due to low yields and was revived in the 1980s, it is now regarded as one of Italy’s most long-lived and complex white wines, thanks to its mineral tension and ever-evolving aromatic potential.”
Monleale’s vineyard: Colli Tortonesi’s ideal terroir
For their Derthona, Marchesi Alfieri chose Monleale, in the heart of Colli Tortonesi: six hectares facing east, at 400 meters above sea level, in a borderland between Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna. A landscape historically devoted to mixed farming, where forests and vineyards have coexisted for centuries.
“Here, sustainability is a way of life, even before it is an agricultural approach”, says Giovanna San Martino di San Germano, currently at the helm of the estate, alongside her sisters Emanuela and Antonella, together with the new generation.
Derthona Marchesi Alfieri: careful winemaking and long maturation on the fine lees
The Derthona Marchesi Alfieri 2023 is made from 100% Timorasso grapes, hand-harvested towards the end of August.
Vinification involves gentle pressing of whole clusters, fermentation in stainless steel at 18°C, and extended aging of 9–10 months on fine lees with bâtonnage, followed by at least one additional year of bottle maturation before release.
Production is limited to approximately 5,000 bottles.
The result is a wine of great elegance: straw-yellow in color with golden reflections, aromas of apple, citrus, tropical fruit, and yellow flowers, evolving intriguingly towards notes of petrol and flint.
On the palate, it is full-bodied, savory, fresh, and persistent, with a balance that makes it ideal for complex food pairings, from structured fish dishes and risottos to medium-aged cheeses.
Harvest 2023: a forward-looking debut
The first harvest, 2023, will be available from January 2026 and has already shown exceptional aging potential.
“A wine that can evolve over time is a continuous surprise: the 2023 is already approachable, yet it will continue to develop”, emphasizes Olivero.
Derthona embodies a bridge between tradition and new generations, a wine crafted for curious consumers who appreciate native vines and the expressive depth of Piedmontese white wines.
The label: Marchesi Alfieri’s tribute to the Tortonese’s marlstone
The packaging reflects its territorial identity: the sugar paper color of the label evokes the characteristic Tortonese’s marls, the ideal soil for Timorasso.
The chosen name is simply “Derthona”, an ancient toponym of Tortona, paying homage to the millenary history of the Colli Tortonesi.
The new Derthona will be available at the estate and through the Horeca channel, positioned as a gastronomic white wine with strong personality, also suitable for high-end dining.”
