Discovering Liguria and its wines

Liguria's wine industry is a true miracle: thanks to the construction of terracing on the hills and hard work in the fields, the country folks have succeeded in continuing the grape culture for centuries. The resulting wine list is truly excellent and appears in local festivals, famous eateries and five star gourmet restaurants.

Starting from the Eastern Riviera, the vineyards of the Cinque Terre area produce the DOC wines of Colli di Luni and Sciacchetrà, the undisputed leader and Liguria’s oldest and rarest wine. This amber-coloured passito wine is a high-quality product with well-deserved DOC status. It is a perfect accompaniment for cheeses and desserts.

Chiavari and its inland area produce the Bianchetta and Ciliegiolo wines. Continuing west, the Granaccia wine comes from the town of Quiliano in the province of Savona. Towards Finale Ligure, white wines such as Pigato, Vermentino and Lumassina are produced, and the province of Imperia is home to the red Ormeasco di Pornassio. The Region’s most prestigious wine, Rossese di Dolceacqua, is produced not far from the border with France. This high-quality wine, enjoyed by figures such as Barnabò D’Oria, Pope Paul III and Napoleon, has boasted DOC status since 1972. This grape variety is very widespread in the Western Riviera and the wine it produces is recommended with meat and game.

In Liguria, wine also features in events and shows, such as the grape festivals in Rapallo, Varazze, Vezzano and other localities, and in tasting routes like the Wine and Olive Oil Route, 120 kilometres including the Aaltopiano delle Manie, between the towns of Spotorno and Finale Ligure, and the Col di Nava in the province of Imperia, passing through the towns of Albenga, Andora and Mendatica. These 13 routes, through both inland villages and coastal towns, are an excellent way to discover the area’s wines and traditional local products.

Each year, at the start of summer, the Liguria da bere festival is held in La Spezia, bringing all the wines and flavours of Liguria together in one city. The city centre is transformed by exhibitions, workshops and countless stands which take over the streets and squares, offering visitors tastings of regional wines as well as traditional local products. This is a great way to explore the world of wine and its culture through an introduction to the Liguria region’s eight DOC wines - Dolceacqua, Ormeasco, Riviera Ligure, Val Polcevera, Golfo del Tigullio, Colline di Levanto, Cinque Terre, Colli di Luni - and the four IGT wines - Colline Savonesi, Golfo dei Poeti La Spezia, Colline del Genovesato and Terrazze dell'Imperiese. ( Fonte: © 2009 Agenzia regionale Promozione Turistica "In Liguria")