The Wines of Liguria

DOC

Rossese di Dolceacqua (created 1972)

Cinque Terre and Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà (sweet) (created 1973)

Riviera Ligure di Ponente (white Pigato and Vermentino and the red Ormeasco (a local Dolcetto) and Rossese) (created 1988)

Colli di Luni red wines and white wines from Vermentino. (La Spezia to Tuscan border) (created 1989)

Colline di Levanto (south east of Genoa) (created 1995)

Golfo del Tigullio (south east of Genoa) (created 1997) Portofino is to be added to the name.

Val Polcevera (created 1999)

Pornassio or Ormeasco di Pornassio (created 2003)

TGI Liguria = Typical Geographical Indication

1. ‘Terrazze dell’Imperiese’ from the whole region of Imperia
2. Colline Savonesi from the hills around Savona – white wines including sparkling and straw wines, and red wines including novella style and rosé
3. Colline dell Genovesato from the region around Genoa and also includes the areas of ‘Riviera di Ponente (Arenzano and Cogoleto); Golfo del Tigullio and Val Polcevera. White wines including sparkling and straw wines, and red wines including novella style and rosé.
4. Golfo dei Poeti la Spezia from the region around la Spezia (Golfo dei Poeti and Liguria di Levante). White wines including sparkling and straw wines, and red wines including novella style and rosé.

Within the DOC zone are areas with special sub-denominations for certain wines:

• Albenga and Finale for Pigato, Rossese and Vermentino and Riviera dei Fiori for all types.
• Pigato del Albenga – a rich white wine made from the Pigato grape, can be extremely floral and fragrant with hints of fennel.

Most other wines of Liguria are curiosities, local whites and reds that are usually at their best young and close to home. Such rarities as Buzzeto and Granaccia (Grenache?), Coronata and Lumassina.

There is some dispute as to whether all the DOC’s reflect real regional character or whether they were created purely for marketing reasons. Do they help define the different wines or cause confusion amongst the consumer and competition amongst the wine makers.

Grapes

White Grapes: Albarola, Pigato, Vermentino (there is evidence pointing to Pigato being a clonal variation of Vermentino and the wines from these varieties can be very similar.), Bosco, Rossese (white with a hint of blush in warm summers).

Red Grapes: Rossese di Dolceacqua, Dolcetto (Ormeasco) (Sangiovese, Cabernet, Syrah, Carignan, Grenache)

Rossese also has a DNA relation to the Provencal grape Tibourenc which successfully grows in the hotter coastal vineyards and is traditional an important part of Provencal rosés