Liguria is a narrow coastal region in northwestern Italy. It shares borders with France to the west, Piedmont to the north, and Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany to the east. Wine growing in Liguria is a challenging endeavour shaped by the region’s steep, dramatic landscape and Mediterranean climate. Despite its small size and limited vineyard area, Liguria produces high-quality wines, many from native grape varieties found nowhere else. Vineyards often sit on terraced slopes which offer no access for modern machinery, so the grapes require manual labour, which is part of what makes Ligurian wine special and scarce. We finish our Parma, Tuscany and Ligurian Sea tour here and get to taste many of the wines mentioned below.
Key White Grapes from Liguria
Vermentino – This is the most important white variety in Liguria and is a grape which loves the sea. It produces fresh, aromatic wines which pair brilliantly with fish and seafood. The same grape thrives on the island of Sardinia.
Pigato – Genetically similar to Vermentino, but considered a distinct local clone and found mainly in western Liguria. The grapes have a speckled skin.
Albarola – This local white grape is used mainly in blends, to add acidity and freshness to the wines.
Bosco – The grape thrives in the dry, hilly terrain of the Cinque Terre, but is rarely used pure. It is mainly added to Liguria’s other white grapes to give body and complexity.
Key Red Grapes from Liguria
Rossese – Grown mainly in Riviera Ligure di Ponente, especially around Dolceacqua, this grape makes elegant, aromatic reds with flavours of berries and herbs
Ormeasco – This is the Ligurian name for Dolcetto, but it has adapted to the local terroir to make spicy more structured wines
Granaccia – This is the local name for Grenache. It is cultivated in small quantities and is used in blends to add body and warmth.
Top Wine Denominations in Liguria
Riviera Ligure di Ponente – This covers much of western Liguria where Vermentino, Pigato and Rossese vines are grown.
Rossese di Dolceacqua – This covers the far western tip of the territory, producing elegant and age-worthy reds
Ormeasco di Pornassio – This covers red wines made from Ormeasco from mountain vineyards at high altitude
Colli di Luni – This covers eastern Liguria with mostly Vermentino whites and some Sangiovese-based reds. Sangiovese is the great Tuscan red grape.
Cinque Terre – Tiny, iconic coastal vineyards near the sea with wines made from Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino.
Wine Tip
If you find yourself in Liguria, look out for a famous passito-style sweet wine known by the name of Sciacchetrà. This wine is made in limited quantities and is deeply tied to the identity and history of the Cinque Terre, with the winemaking traditions passed down through generations. It is made from the native Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino varieties. The harvested grapes are dried on straw mats in well-ventilated rooms for several weeks to concentrate their natural sweetness and flavours before fermentation. After pressing, the wine ferments spontaneously and very slowly in stainless steel tanks for about a year. Further ageing takes place in wooden casks. The wine is celebrated for its complex notes of honey, dried fruit and nuts and its characteristic salty, mineral finish. It is usually sold in tall, narrow bottles and is difficult to find outside the region.