What is "cortese"

Cortese is a white Italian wine grape variety predominantly grown in the southeastern regions of Piedmont in the provinces of Alessandria and Asti. It is the primary grape of the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wines of Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato and Colli Tortonesi as well as the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wine of Cortese di Gavi. Significant plantings of Cortese can also be found in the Lombardy region of Oltrepò Pavese and in the DOC white blends of the Veneto wine region of Bianco di Custoza. Cortese has a long history in Italian viticulture with written documentation naming the grape among the plantings in a Piedmontese vineyard as early as 1659. The grape's moderate acidity and light flavors has made it a favorite for the restaurants in nearby Genoa as a wine pairing with the local seafood caught off the Ligurian coast.

Cortese is a surname of Italian origin. It may refer to:

• Anthony Cortese (b. 1947), US environmental scientist
• Bob Cortese (f. 1990s), US college football coach
• Dan Cortese (b. 1967), US actor
• Daniels Holderby Cortése (b. 1982), US operatic female singer
• David D. Cortese (f. 2000s), US political figure (Santa Clara County, California Supervisor)
• Deena Cortese American television personality, Jersey Shore
• Dominic L. Cortese (b. 1932), US political figure (California state legislator 1980–96)
• Enrico Cortese (b. 1985), Italian athlete in football
• Franco Cortese (1903–1986), Italian auto racing driver
• Genevieve Cortese (b. 1981), US television actress
• Giovanni Andrea Cortese (1483–1548), Italian cardinal and monastic reformer
• Giulio Cesare Cortese (1570-1640), Italian writer
• Guillaume Courtois (1628-1679), French-born artist who flourished in Rome, where he was known as Guglielmo Cortese
• Joseph Cortese (b. 1949), US actor
• Laura Cortese (f. 1990s-2000s), US female musician
• Leonardo Cortese (1916-1984), Italian film actor and director
• Pete Cortese (f. 1990s-2000s), US musician
• Sandro Cortese (b. 1990), German motorcycle racer
• Shane Cortese (b. 1968), New Zealand actor and singer
• Valentina Cortese (b. 1925), Italian actress