Liguria

Regional detail

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 Appennine 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.

Average annual production

less than 10,000 HL
Liguria Placeholder
Liguria

Grapes

Albarola

Description

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

Principle Wines

Cinque Terre
Bosco

Description

The main whiter grape of the Cinque Terre blend.

Principle Wines

Cinque Terre
Ormeasc

Description

Aka Dolcetto – pls see Piemonte

Principle Wines

Aka Dolcetto – pls see Piemonte
Pigato

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.
Rossese

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
Sangiovese

Description

See Tuscany
See Tuscany

Principle Wines

Vermentino

Description

Pls see Pigato

Principle Wines

Pls see Pigato

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

Cinque Terre 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
Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà DOC

Description

This very rare sweet wine is made from raisined grapes

Principle Wines

Bosco, Albarola, Vermentino
Colli di Luni DOC

Description

One of the more important areas for the production of Vermentino

Principle Wines

Vermentino
Rossese di Dolceacqua or Dolceacqua DOC

Description

One of the more important areas for the production of Vermentino

Principle Wines

Rossese

Other Appellations DOCG/DOC

Colline di Levanto DOC

Principle Wines

Bianco:
Vermentino, Albarola, Bosco
Rosso:
Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo
Golfo del Tigullio DOC (a multi DOC*)

Principle Wines

Bianco:
Vermentino, Bianchetta Genovese
Rosso:
Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto
Varietal:
Bianchetta Genovese, Moscato, Vermentino, Ciliegiolo
Pornassio or Ormeasco di Pornassio DOC

Principle Wines

Dolcetto aka Ormeasco - Produced almost exclusively in Pornassio and Pieve di Teco
Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC

Principle Wines

Pigato, Rossese
Val Polcevera DOC

Principle Wines

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

IGT Appellations

Colline Savonesi