LIGURY

Heroic viticulture between sea and mountains

Liguria is one of Italy's most fascinating and challenging wine-growing regions, where viticulture takes on truly “heroic” characteristics. The vineyards grow on steep terraces (the famous “fasce”) carved out of the mountains that plunge into the sea, creating a wine-growing landscape that is unique in the world. This extremely difficult form of viticulture, mainly manual, generates limited production but with an extraordinary identity, where the minerality of the soil blends with the salty notes brought by the sea breeze. The particular microclimate, influenced by the sea and protected by the Apennines, creates ideal conditions for quality viticulture.

Vermentino and Pigato: two sides of the same coin

White wines are at the heart of Ligurian production, with Vermentino and Pigato as the undisputed stars. Although genetically very similar, these grape varieties express distinctive characteristics: Vermentino offers freshness, floral and citrus notes, while Pigato stands out for its greater structure, savoriness, and typical bitter notes on the finish. Their expression reaches its peak in the Riviera Ligure di Ponente e Colli di Luni DOC, where these white wines are characterized by a complex aromatic bouquet ranging from wildflowers to Mediterranean scrub, with a marked minerality that makes them perfect companions for Ligurian cuisine. In addition to whites, Liguria offers authentic wine gems such as Rossese di Dolceacqua, an elegant red.

Wine rarities to discover

In addition to whites, Liguria offers authentic wine gems such as Rossese di Dolceacqua, an elegant red with spicy and floral notes that is unique in the Italian landscape. In the far east, Ciliegiolo and Albarola contribute to the Cinque Terre DOC, while rare grape varieties such as Bianchetta Genovese, Bosco, and Granaccia enrich the region's ampelographic heritage. There is no shortage of excellent meditation wines such as Sciacchetrà, a passito from the Cinque Terre of extraordinary complexity. These niche productions, often made by small family businesses, embody the essence of a rugged and generous territory that has been able to transform difficulties into an opportunity for uniqueness.