Liguria is North West Italy’s slender and picturesque coastal region, romantically known as the Italian Riviera. Here, terraced vineyards overlook the sea as they hug steep hillside climbs that. It’s an area of incredible natural beauty with pretty seaside villages offering chic hideaways to dine on the crisp white wines of the area and days maritime catch.
Shaped like a boomerang, Liguria borders the frontier with France to the West and extends east past the city of Genova, towards La Spezia and then south towards Tuscany. The journey from one side to the other delivers an assortment of boutique DOCs, many of which give a platform to little known grape varieties.
The most important appellation, if only in terms of image and visibility is Cinque Terre DOC, covers white wines produced around the famous town of the same name. The visually striking effect of Cinque Terre’s coloured building teetering above the vivid azure of the bay of Genoa is an evocative effect. Here the Bosco grape much constitute a minimum of 40% although some producers choose to make monovarietal versions. The rest can be made up of either Albarola and / or Vermentino.
Colli di Luni is a Tuscan and Ligurian DOC. White wines are made from Vermentino, which can be made in a Superiore style and Albarola. Reds must be made with at least 50% Sangiovese.
Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC, sometimes shortened simply to Dolceacqua DOC is a red wine appellation in Liguria known for the Rossese variety. The appellation permits up to seven different communes being mentioned on the label, as well a further 38 geographical mentions.
Cinque Terre DOC, also referred to as Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà DOC, produces white wines from Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino.
Colline del Genovesato covers winemaking around the city of Genoa. It was created for Granaccia and Pigato.
