Region: Piedmont (Colli Tortonesi), Italy
Grapes: 100% Cortese
Body: Medium
Notes: White peach, bruised yellow apple, preserved lemon, acacia blossom, crushed limestone, and wild thyme, with a driving, linear acidity, subtle waxy texture, and a long, chalky mineral finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, vitello tonnato, grilled seabass, herb-crusted goat cheese, or risotto al limone
The Producer
Azienda Agricola La Morella is an authentic, low-intervention estate located in Carezzano, within the rolling Colli Tortonesi hills of southeastern Piedmont. Led by Enio Ferretti, a passionate advocate for biodiversity and organic viticulture, the estate operates as a polycultural farm where vineyards co-exist alongside grain fields, orchards, and woods. Certified organic since the 1980s, Ferretti eschews synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, farming native grapes on steep clay-limestone slopes. In the cellar, winemaking is strictly hands-off: wild-yeast spontaneous fermentations in concrete and stainless steel tanks, long contact on the fine lees, no oak masking, no fining, and minimal sulfur additions at bottling.
The Wine
"Il Monte" is La Morella’s single-vineyard, low-intervention expression of Cortese—the indigenous white grape best known for Gavi, but reaching a weightier, more textural dimension in the clay-chalk soils of Colli Tortonesi. Sourced from high-elevation organically farmed vines, the hand-harvested grapes are gently pressed and ferment spontaneously with wild yeasts in concrete vats. The wine rests on its fine lees for several months to build natural body and complexity without losing its electric structure. Bottled unfined and lightly filtered, the 2025 vintage balances vibrant, sun-ripened orchard fruit and citrus zest with a firm, chalky mineral spine and a refreshing, bone-dry finish.
Region: Piedmont (Colli Tortonesi), Italy
Grapes: 100% Cortese
Body: Medium
Notes: White peach, bruised yellow apple, preserved lemon, acacia blossom, crushed limestone, and wild thyme, with a driving, linear acidity, subtle waxy texture, and a long, chalky mineral finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, vitello tonnato, grilled seabass, herb-crusted goat cheese, or risotto al limone
The Producer
Azienda Agricola La Morella is an authentic, low-intervention estate located in Carezzano, within the rolling Colli Tortonesi hills of southeastern Piedmont. Led by Enio Ferretti, a passionate advocate for biodiversity and organic viticulture, the estate operates as a polycultural farm where vineyards co-exist alongside grain fields, orchards, and woods. Certified organic since the 1980s, Ferretti eschews synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, farming native grapes on steep clay-limestone slopes. In the cellar, winemaking is strictly hands-off: wild-yeast spontaneous fermentations in concrete and stainless steel tanks, long contact on the fine lees, no oak masking, no fining, and minimal sulfur additions at bottling.
The Wine
"Il Monte" is La Morella’s single-vineyard, low-intervention expression of Cortese—the indigenous white grape best known for Gavi, but reaching a weightier, more textural dimension in the clay-chalk soils of Colli Tortonesi. Sourced from high-elevation organically farmed vines, the hand-harvested grapes are gently pressed and ferment spontaneously with wild yeasts in concrete vats. The wine rests on its fine lees for several months to build natural body and complexity without losing its electric structure. Bottled unfined and lightly filtered, the 2025 vintage balances vibrant, sun-ripened orchard fruit and citrus zest with a firm, chalky mineral spine and a refreshing, bone-dry finish.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.