Top 13 Timorasso Wines You Need to Experience: 2023 Edition
Ah, Italy—home to beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and an almost overwhelming selection of wines. Sure, you’ve heard of Pinot Grigio and Chianti, but have you ever had the pleasure of sipping a glass of Timorasso? If not, allow me to introduce you to one of Italy’s best-kept secrets, native to the Piedmont region. This once-obscure grape is having its much-deserved moment in the sun.
Setting the Stage: Why Timorasso?
Before diving into our curated list, let’s chat a bit about what makes Timorasso such a standout grape variety. Thriving in the soil of Piedmont, Timorasso is cherished for its distinctive mineral characteristics, remarkable aging potential, and an elegant balance of acidity and complexity.
Wines that Speak of a Place
Timorasso wines are a terroir-driven experience. Vineyards in Tortona and Colli Tortonesi areas are particularly celebrated. Here, the wines are imbued with rich minerality, thanks to the unique soil composition that consists largely of marl and sandstone.
The Crown Jewels: Cortese, Moscato, Timorasso
While Piedmont is renowned for its Nebbiolo grapes, leading to iconic wines like Barolo and Barbaresco, Timorasso holds its ground as a white grape variety that produces wines with a unique character. It may not have the global recognition of Moscato d’Asti or Gavi di Gavi (made from Cortese grapes), but it’s undoubtedly a hidden gem worth discovering.
Without Further Ado: The Top 12 Timorasso Wines
1. Derthona ‘Costa del Vento’ Vigneti Massa 2018
Price Point: $40-$50
Aging Potential: Up to 10 years
Tasting Notes: Aromatic richness with notes of peach, nectarine, and an intriguing salty finish. As it ages it develops syrupy, nutty and decadent notes with spices reminiscent of candied eucalyptus and incense.
2. Derthona ‘Sterpi’ Vigneti Massa 2017
Price Point: $35-$45
Aging Potential: 12-15 years
Tasting Notes: Expect a harmonious blend of citrus and tropical fruits, mango tart, thyme, backed by a mineral undertone.
3. Borgogno Timorasso 2019
Price Point: $30-$40
Aging Potential: 5-6 years
Tasting Notes: A delightful mix of apple and pear, with a touch of almond on the finish.
4. Claudio Mariotto “Vigna del Pian”
Price Point: $35-$45
Aging Potential: 8-10 years
Tasting Notes: A full-bodied experience featuring notes of golden apple, Meyer lemon, and a minerally finish.
5. La Colombera “La Rustia” Timorasso
Price Point: $40-$50
Aging Potential: 9-10 years
Tasting Notes: On the palate, expect ripe pear, yellow peach, and a touch of toasty oak.
6. Il Montino Vigna della Madonnina Timorasso
Price Point: $45-$55
Aging Potential: 10+ years
Tasting Notes: Focused and precise, with layers of citrus, pineapple, and a saline-infused finish.
7. Nicola Bergaglio “Gavota” Timorasso
Price Point: $35-$40
Aging Potential: 7-8 years
Tasting Notes: Offering green apple, white peach, and a zesty kick of lime, it’s a refreshing choice.
8. Vietti Timorasso
Price Point: $50-$60
Aging Potential: 9-11 years
Tasting Notes: A luscious blend of tropical fruits, rounded out by a smoky minerality and rich texture.
9. Palladino Timorasso
Price Point: $30-$40
Aging Potential: 6-8 years
Tasting Notes: Expect a balanced showcase of green apple, pear, and a whisper of vanilla.
10. Cascina I Carpini Timorasso
Price Point: $40-$50
Aging Potential: 8-10 years
Tasting Notes: Quince and white flowers on the nose, followed by flavors of apricot and a savory minerality.
11. Tenuta Montecchiesi Timorasso
Price Point: $35-$45
Aging Potential: 7-9 years
Tasting Notes: A delightful mélange of stone fruits, finishing with a pleasant tangy acidity.
12. La Colombera Il Montino Timorasso
Price Point: $50-$60
Aging Potential: 10+ years
Tasting Notes: Displays a compelling complexity—honey, dried fruit, and herbs, rounded off by a lengthy finish.
13. Vigneti Boveri Giacomo Muntà l’è Ruma Derthona
Price Point: $35-$40
Aging Potential: 9-10 years
Tasting Notes: Simply amazing.
Just for Fun: Did You Know?
The name “Timorasso” is believed to derive from “Timur,” the historical conqueror known as Tamerlane, although the grape’s origins are far more humble and local.
Savor the Journey: Food Pairings
Timorasso wines go well with seafood, particularly shellfish, as well as pasta dishes rich in creamy sauces. For cheese lovers, try pairing them with mild, nutty cheeses.
Time to Uncork
While approachable and inviting, Timorasso is also a contender for one of the most complex, layered, and age-worthy white wines in Italy, as long as Etna and Trebbiano from Abruzzo. This is a grape that demands patience. Exceptional producers like Borgogno and Walter Massa have crafted Timorassos that blossom incredibly with age, unveiling nuanced flavors and textures that make each sip a revelation. So while it’s tempting to uncork these beauties upon purchase, consider cellaring a few special bottles.