Location

This is Italy's 3rd smallest region after Valle d'Aosta and Molise. It runs along the North West coast from the French Border to Tuscany. Wine production is small as tourism dominates but also due to challenging terrain of the dramatic Appennini mountains that crash into the Mediterranean Sea.

Climate

Mediterranean – the sea being a big factor on the style of the wines.

Topography

Dramatic to see where terraces are carved into the cliffs that hang over the Mediterranean Sea, however, very difficult to cultivate, hence the resulting low production of wine for the region. The Italian Riviera, however, is one of the many jewels in Italy's crown and occupied by the proud Genovesi

Soils

Mix of calcareous clay. Very rocky poor soil.

Production

Less than 10,000 HL

 
                                                                                                                                                                                              Abruzzo        Basilicata        Calabria        Campania        Emilia-Romagna        Friuli-VeneziaGiulia        Lazio        Liguria        Lombardia        Marche        Molise        Piemonte        Puglia        Sardegna        Sicilia        Toscana        Trentino-AltoAdige        Umbria        Valled'Aosta        Veneto                                     

Grapes

  • Description

    Quite light weight and is said to be a type of Trebbiano.

    Principle Wines

    Cinque Terre

  • Description

    The main whiter grape of the Cinque Terre blend.

    Principle Wines

    Cinque Terre

  • Description

    Aka Dolcetto – pls see Piemonte

    Principle Wines

    Aka Dolcetto – pls see Piemonte

  • Description

    Aka Vermentino. Making a much more robust wine than its Sardinian counterpart. Friuty and less herbaceous. Pigato comes from the spots of pigmentation when the grape is ripe. Grown almost exclusively in the Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC where it is considered superior to non-spotted Vermentino

    Principle Wines

    Riviera Ligure di Ponente.

  • Description

    Making an easy drinking quaffable Italian Riviera red. Has been known to creep up into Barolo territory.

    Principle Wines

    Rossese di Dolceacqua or Dolceacqua

  • Description

    See Tuscany

    Principle Wines

    See Tuscany

  • Description

    Pls see Pigato

    Principle Wines

    Pls see Pigato

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Description

    Perhaps Liguria's most famous wine served in the local restaurants and produced on the dramatic terraces overlooking the sea.

    Principle Wines

    Bosco, Albarola, Vermentino

  • Description

    This very rare sweet wine is made from raisined grapes

    Principle Wines

    Bosco, Albarola, Vermentino

  • Description

    One of the more important areas for the production of Vermentino

    Principle Wines

    Vermentino

  • Description

    One of the more important areas for the production of Vermentino

    Principle Wines

    Rossese

Sub Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Principle Wines

    Bianco:
    Vermentino, Albarola, Bosco
    Rosso:
    Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo

  • Principle Wines

    Bianco:
    Vermentino, Bianchetta Genovese
    Rosso:
    Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto
    Varietal:
    Bianchetta Genovese, Moscato, Vermentino, Ciliegiolo

  • Principle Wines

    Dolcetto aka Ormeasco - Produced almost exclusively in Pornassio and Pieve di Teco

  • Principle Wines

    Pigato, Rossese

  • Principle Wines

    Coronata, Vermentino, Bianchetta Genovese, Dolcetto Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Barbera.