A new chapter for the historic estate with its first Colli Tortonesi Timorasso
San Martino Alfieri (AT), January 2026 – After a brief venture in the 1990s producing an international-variety white wine, and more than thirty years devoted exclusively to the great red wines of Piedmont, Marchesi Alfieri (link) now turns a page in its long history with the release of Derthona, Colli Tortonesi DOC Timorasso 2023.
This ambitious project marks a technical challenge, a meaningful addition to the estate’s range, and a natural evolution for an estate that has been interpreting the Piedmontese landscape with passion and precision since 1696.
A CHOICE ROOTED IN IDENTITY
“We wanted to craft a white wine that would express the true character of Piedmont, one with personality, structure and the ability to age gracefully,” explains winemaker Mario Olivero, who has led the estate since 1999. “Timorasso had always intrigued us. It’s a grape that perfectly matches our philosophy: structured wines with lively acidity and real potential for complexity over time.”
The choice was far from casual. Once a historic Piedmontese variety, Timorasso was largely abandoned in the 20th century due to its low yields and nearly disappeared after phylloxera. It experienced a remarkable revival in the 1980s thanks to its distinctive qualities and outstanding ageing potential.
THE VINEYARD: MONLEALE, A NATURAL HOME
Marchesi Alfieri identified the ideal site for its Derthona in the commune of Monleale, at the heart of the Colli Tortonesi appellation. Six hectares facing east at 400 metres above sea level, where the gentle slope provides excellent sunlight throughout the day while protecting the vines from excessive summer heat.
“The choice of vineyard emerged from a collective, carefully considered discussion, but the final decision was made by the family,” says Giovanna San Martino di San Germano, who leads the estate today alongside her sisters Emanuela and Antonella and the younger generation. “We chose to invest in a borderland where Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna meet—a landscape shaped by centuries of polyculture, where woodland and vineyard coexist in natural balance. Here, sustainability is not a slogan but a way of living and farming with respect for complexity, history and the land’s ability to regenerate.”
It is an approach fully aligned with the philosophy of Marchesi Alfieri, where innovation and tradition have long walked hand in hand.
WINEMAKING & STYLE
Derthona Marchesi Alfieri is produced through meticulous and gentle winemaking. Whole clusters are pressed without destemming to preserve aromatic delicacy. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel at 18°C, followed by extended ageing on fine lees to build texture and complexity.
The resulting wine is elegant and layered: aromas of apple and citrus give way to ripe, crisp tropical fruit and yellow flowers, with subtle hints of hydrocarbon and flint emerging with bottle age. The palate is full and saline, energised by vivid, persistent freshness.
THE 2023 VINTAGE: A promising first release
The inaugural vintage, 2023 (link), will be released in January 2026 and has already shown impressive ageing potential.
“The beauty of a wine built to evolve lies in the surprise it offers year after year,” Olivero notes. “With 2023, we already have a wine that is open and expressive, yet clearly capable of gaining complexity over time.”
Derthona is also a highly versatile gastronomic wine, suited even to structured and elaborate dishes while remaining faithful to its territorial identity
A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE
The label design pays tribute to the land: the soft sugar-paper blue recalls the marl soils typical of the Tortona area, the grape’s historic cradle. The wine is simply named Derthona – the ancient name of Tortona – as a nod to both the appellation and the region’s deep-rooted history.
“This wine strengthens our identity while creating a bridge to the next generation of wine lovers,” says Christian Carlevero, winemaker at the estate since 2007. “It’s an exciting challenge and a meaningful step for a winery like ours – already well known, but always looking to spark curiosity and keep the conversation going.” Derthona Marchesi Alfieri will be available at the winery and in the Ho.re.ca. channel.
