Derthona Timorasso - Walter Massa and the great revival of an iconic italian white
Timorasso, an indigenous grape to the Derthona Hills dating back to the 1300s, was a goner back in the 1980s. Almost every winemaker and viticulturist in the area had abandoned this textured white. Except one man : Walter Massa. This intrepid winemaker, oenologist and Timorasso producer had a vision, implemented it, and rescued this grape variety from extinction. Today, the revival of Timorasso stands as one of the most celebrated success stories in contemporary Italian wine. A decades-long friendship with Walter set the Davico family on the path to producing some of the finest Derthona Timorasso wines in the Piedmont region.
Derthona Timorasso - the native Piedmont grape redefining italian white wine
Derthona Timorasso is one of the most distinctive white wine grapes in Piedmont and has become the signature variety of the Colli Tortonesi region. Not about flash or impact, it doesn't rely on a punch of acidity e basta. Derthona Timorasso is a slow burn. One sip rarely does it justice. Expect light spice, citrus, and nutty aromas at first, before it blossoms into white flowers, ginger, peaches, honey, and chamomile. It envelopes the palate with both freshness and firmness, delivering a long, sophisticated finish that lingers.
Timorasso wine, often called Derthona after the ancient Roman name for the city of Tortona, is made by a grape with deep roots. What makes it particularly rare among whites is its ability to age. Its structure and aromatic complexity deepen from one vintage to the next, making it a thrilling grape to follow over time. Equally interesting is its phenolic grip, that subtle, tugging sensation on the palate more commonly found in red wines. It gives Derthona Timorasso a presence and staying power that sets it apart from almost any other Italian white wine.
Colli Tortonesi: Piedmont’s best-kept secret
Piedmont needs no introduction : Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba. Yet, the Colli Tortonesi remains the region's best-kept secret, quietly emerging as a hotspot for premium whites in a land famous for its reds.
Tucked into the south-eastern corner of Piedmont, the area benefits from a rare climatic dialogue between the Ligurian sea and the breeze of the Pô Valley. And sitting precisely on the 45th parallel — cartographically prime real estate for exceptional wine — it's no accident that what grows here is extraordinary.
The heart of the Colli Tortonesi
The Davico Stefano estate is located in Piedmont, between the municipalities of Montemarzino and Monleale, close to Lombardy and within reach of Liguria and Emilia-Romagna.
The vineyards grow at approximately 400 metres above sea level, among rolling hills, country roads and landscapes shaped by generations of agricultural work. This is the Colli Tortonesi: a lesser-known side of Piedmont, increasingly recognised for the quality, personality and ageing potential of its wines.
A meeting point of landscapes and climates
The Colli Tortonesi area is located in the south-eastern corner of Piedmont, in a geographical position influenced by several neighbouring regions.
Here, the air currents from the Ligurian Sea meet the breezes of the Po Valley, creating a distinctive climatic dialogue.
Altitude, exposure and seasonal temperature variations contribute to the slow and balanced ripening of the grapes, encouraging aromatic complexity, freshness and structure. These natural conditions are especially suited to native varieties such as Timorasso, Barbera and Croatina.
Wines from the 45th parallel
The estate is located along the 45th parallel north.
This imaginary line marks the midpoint between the Equator and the North Pole and crosses some of the world’s most renowned wine-growing areas. Its balanced latitude, combined with the altitude and local climate of the Colli Tortonesi, creates favourable conditions for the production of wines with depth, freshness and ageing potential.
