After more than thirty years dedicated to great Piedmontese red wines and a brief experiment in the 1990s with an international white grape variety, Marchesi Alfieri is opening a new chapter in its history: a return to white wine production. It is doing so by choosing one of Piedmont’s most distinctive and fascinating grape varieties, Timorasso, with the launch of Derthona Colli Tortonesi DOC Timorasso 2023.
This project marks a significant turning point for the historic estate and stems from a clear vision: to expand the range without distorting its identity, remaining faithful to a production philosophy that has interpreted the Piedmont region with rigor, passion, and a sense of time since 1696.
A choice of identity
“We wanted a white wine that was authentically Piedmontese, with character and the ability to evolve over the years,” says Mario Olivero, winemaker and technical director at Marchesi Alfieri since 1999. “Timorasso has always intrigued us: it is a structured grape variety, with significant freshness and a complexity that fully expresses itself over time. In this sense, it speaks our language.”
The choice of Timorasso is no coincidence. A historic grape variety that almost disappeared in the 20th century due to low yields and agronomic difficulties, it has enjoyed a renaissance since the 1980s and is now one of the Italian whites with the greatest potential for longevity.
Monleale: the vineyard and the terroir
To give shape to its Derthona, Marchesi Alfieri identified the municipality of Monleale, in the heart of the Colli Tortonesi appellation, as the ideal location. Here, six hectares of east-facing vineyards, at an altitude of about 400 meters, benefit from a natural balance of light, ventilation, and temperature, with a slope that ensures slow and regular ripening, avoiding excessive summer heat.
“The final decision was made by the family,” explains Giovanna San Martino di San Germano, who runs the company together with her sisters Emanuela and Antonella and the younger generation. “We chose to invest in a border area where Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna meet. It is a landscape historically suited to mixed farming, where woods and vineyards have coexisted in balance for centuries. Here, sustainability is a daily practice, not an abstract concept.”
This approach fully reflects the philosophy of Marchesi Alfieri, which has always been committed to combining the memory of the territory with a contemporary vision.
Vinification and style
Derthona Marchesi Alfieri is the result of careful vinification that respects the raw material. The grapes are pressed whole, without destemming, to preserve their aromatic integrity. Fermentation takes place in steel at a controlled temperature of 18°C, followed by long aging on fine lees, which gives the wine depth, structure, and elegance.
In the glass, it expresses a complex and refined profile: notes of apple and citrus open the bouquet, followed by hints of fresh tropical fruit and yellow flowers. As it evolves, fascinating hints of hydrocarbon and flint emerge. On the palate, it is full-bodied and savory, supported by vibrant freshness and a long finish.
The 2023 vintage: a promising debut
The first vintage, 2023, will be available from January 2026 and has already shown remarkable evolutionary potential.
“The value of a great wine also lies in the surprises it can offer over time,” Olivero points out. “The 2023 is already expressive, but it hints at a very interesting path of growth.”
Designed as a wine to accompany food, Derthona Marchesi Alfieri is also suitable for complex dishes, always maintaining a strong character and a strong territorial identity.
A bridge to the future
The label also reflects the link with the territory: the powder blue color recalls the typical marl soils of the Tortona area, the ideal terroir for Timorasso. The name remains simple, Derthona, the ancient name of Tortona, paying homage to the millennial history of these places.
“For us, this wine represents a consolidation of the brand and a bridge to new generations of consumers,” says Christian Carlevero, winemaker at the winery since 2007. “It is an exciting challenge and an important test for a company that wants to continue to stimulate curiosity and interest.”
Derthona Marchesi Alfieri will be available in the winery and in the Ho.Re.Ca. channel.
