Photo: Terensky, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Piedmont · Sub-regions
Colli Tortonesi
The hills around Tortona in Piedmont's south-east: Timorasso, rescued from extinction by Walter Massa, yields one of Italy's great whites here – mineral, dense, ageing for decades. Barbera and Croatina alongside.
Grape Varieties
Timorasso, Barbera
Croatina, Cortese
Most Famous Site
Derthona
Vineyard Area
1.000 ha
Harvest
September – October
TERROIR PROFILE · Piedmont
Colli Tortonesi Calcareous marl — Timorasso country
Walter Massa's Timorasso: one of Italy's great whites, from calcareous marl near Tortona.
SOILS
Marlbalanced, structured
Marl is a mix of limestone and clay — yields structured, balanced wines with acidity backbone.
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
Sandstonewarm, dry, spicy
Sandstone warms quickly and yields ripe, fragrant wines with yellow fruit and fine spice.
CLIMATE · Cool continental
The Colli Tortonesi form a transitional zone between the Apennines and the Po plain, with a temperate continental climate under Ligurian influence; altitudes reach over 400 metres.
TOPOGRAPHY · moderate
Hills around Tortona, Monleale, Sarezzano and Costa Vescovato in southeastern Piedmont at the edge of the Apennines. Altitudes reach over 400 metres.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Timorasso
WhiteBarbera
RedCroatina
RedCortese
WhiteRegion aroma cloud
Piedmont overview
This sub-region is part of Piedmont. The map shows all 15 sub-regions — Colli Tortonesi is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
The Colli Tortonesi lie in the south-east of Piedmont, in the province of Alessandria, between the river valleys of the Scrivia, Curone and Grue. The centre is the town of Tortona, whose Roman name Dertona gave Timorasso wine its alias Derthona. Well-known wine villages include Monleale, Costa Vescovato and Sarezzano. The hills rise towards the Ligurian Apennines.
The climate is continental, with an influence from the nearby Ligurian coast that brings warmth and wind from the sea and supports ripening. The soils are calcareous marl, clay and sandstone. On the marl soils Timorasso develops its mineral density and ageing capacity.
The most important variety is Timorasso, which Walter Massa rescued from extinction from the 1980s and which is now counted among Italy's great white wines. Barbera, Croatina and Cortese are also grown. Timorasso is dense and dry and ages for decades; Barbera and Croatina yield powerful reds.
Soil Type
Calcareous marl, clay, sandstone
Climate
Continental with maritime influence from Liguria
All Wineries
2 resultsEvents in Piedmont
All events in Piedmont →10 Oct – Sun, 6 December 2026
Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba – Wine Tasting Experience
Tasting · Alba
25 Jan – Tue, 26 January 2027
Grandi Langhe
Trade event · Alba
27 Jan – Sat, 30 January 2027
Nebbiolo Prima
Trade event · Alba
24 Apr – Sun, 2 May 2027
Vinum Alba
Wine fair · Alba
15 May – Sun, 16 May 2027
Nizza è Barbera
Tasting · Nizza Monferrato
29 May – Sun, 30 May 2027
Cantine Aperte Piemonte
Open cellar · Piemont
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Colli Tortonesi known for?
The main variety is Timorasso, saved from extinction by Walter Massa in the 1980s. It is dense and dry, ages for decades and is regarded as one of Italy's great white wines.
Where are the Colli Tortonesi and which villages are known?
The Colli Tortonesi lie in south-eastern Piedmont in the province of Alessandria. The centre is Tortona, whose Roman name Dertona gave Timorasso the name Derthona; known villages include Monleale, Costa Vescovato and Sarezzano.
What is the climate like in Colli Tortonesi?
The climate in the Colli Tortonesi is continental, with maritime influence from Liguria. The harvest runs from September to October.
Which grape varieties define Colli Tortonesi?
The key grape varieties in Colli Tortonesi are Timorasso, Barbera, Croatina and Cortese. The best-known vineyard is Derthona.
When is the best time to visit Colli Tortonesi for wine?
The harvest in Colli Tortonesi takes place September – October – when vineyards and cellars are busiest. May to July suits tastings without harvest bustle; many estates open their tasting rooms off-season by appointment.
How many wineries are there in Colli Tortonesi?
Cellarmap lists 2 wineries in Colli Tortonesi across roughly 1,000 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
All wineries in Colli Tortonesi, A to Z
- Cascina Montagnola · Viguzzolo
- Claudio Mariotto · Tortona
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.