Liguria wine
Encyclopedia
Liguria is an Italian wine
region located in the northwest region of Italy
along the Italian Riviera
. It is bordered by the Piedmont wine region to the north, the Alps
and French wine
region of Provence to the west, the Apennine Mountains
and the Emilia-Romagna wine region to the east with a small border shared with Tuscany in the south-east along the Ligurian sea
.
Liguria has several Denominazione di origine controllata
regions with the most notable being the Cinque Terre DOC
from cliff side vineyards situated among the five fishing villages of Cinque Terre
in the province of La Spezia
. The DOC produces light white wines made from grape varieties such as Bosco
, Albarola
and Vermentino
. In the west, is the red wine producing region of Dolceacqua
producing wine from the indigenous
Rossese
grape.
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
region located in the northwest region of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
along the Italian Riviera
Italian Riviera
The Italian Riviera, or Ligurian Riviera is the narrow coastal strip which lies between the Ligurian Sea and the mountain chain formed by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines...
. It is bordered by the Piedmont wine region to the north, the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and French wine
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
region of Provence to the west, the Apennine Mountains
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
and the Emilia-Romagna wine region to the east with a small border shared with Tuscany in the south-east along the Ligurian sea
Ligurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Riviera and the island of Corsica. The sea is probably named after the ancient Ligures people.-Geography:...
.
Liguria has several Denominazione di origine controllata
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
regions with the most notable being the Cinque Terre DOC
Cinque Terre DOC
Cinque Terre is a small DOC white wine region in Liguria, North Italy. The DOC was granted in 1973 and production is limited to the coastal areas of the Cinque Terre in the Province of La Spezia, and specifically to the territories of the communes of Riomaggiore , Vernazza and...
from cliff side vineyards situated among the five fishing villages of Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" is composed of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore...
in the province of La Spezia
Province of La Spezia
The Province of La Spezia is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of La Spezia.It has an area of 881 km², and a total population of 223,606 inhabitants...
. The DOC produces light white wines made from grape varieties such as Bosco
Bosco (grape)
Bosco is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown predominately in the Liguria region of northwest Italy. It is a permitted variety in the Denominazione di origine controllata wine of Cinque Terre where it is often the primary component of the blend...
, Albarola
Albarola
Albarola is a white Italian wine grape variety grown in the northwest Italy. It is most commonly found in the Liguria region where producers in the Cinqueterre Denominazione di origine controllata use it as a blending component. Wine expert Jancis Robinson describes the wine made from Albarola as...
and Vermentino
Vermentino
Vermentino is a late-ripening white grape variety, primarily found in Italian wine. It is widely planted in Sardinia, in Liguria primarily under the name Pigato, to some extent in Corsica, in Piedmont under the name Favorita, and in increasing amounts in Languedoc-Roussillon. The leaves are dark...
. In the west, is the red wine producing region of Dolceacqua
Dolceacqua
Dolceacqua is a comune in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, located about 120 km southwest of Genoa and about 35 km west of Imperia, on the border with France...
producing wine from the indigenous
Indigenous
Indigenous means: belonging to a certain place.Indigenous may refer to:In Ecology and Geography*Indigenous resources, resources which exist within local geography, that are not imported...
Rossese
Rossese
Rossese is a red Italian wine grape variety that is planted primarily in Liguria. The wines produced from Rossese are a local specialty found around Dolceacqua.-Synonyms:...
grape.
DOC regions
The following is a list of DOCs in the Liguria region along with the grapes that may be included in the blend under varying percentages that are regulated under the DOC label.- Cinque Terre DOCCinque Terre DOCCinque Terre is a small DOC white wine region in Liguria, North Italy. The DOC was granted in 1973 and production is limited to the coastal areas of the Cinque Terre in the Province of La Spezia, and specifically to the territories of the communes of Riomaggiore , Vernazza and...
- White wine only DOC producing wine from the BoscoBosco (grape)Bosco is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown predominately in the Liguria region of northwest Italy. It is a permitted variety in the Denominazione di origine controllata wine of Cinque Terre where it is often the primary component of the blend...
, AlbarolaAlbarolaAlbarola is a white Italian wine grape variety grown in the northwest Italy. It is most commonly found in the Liguria region where producers in the Cinqueterre Denominazione di origine controllata use it as a blending component. Wine expert Jancis Robinson describes the wine made from Albarola as...
and VermentinoVermentinoVermentino is a late-ripening white grape variety, primarily found in Italian wine. It is widely planted in Sardinia, in Liguria primarily under the name Pigato, to some extent in Corsica, in Piedmont under the name Favorita, and in increasing amounts in Languedoc-Roussillon. The leaves are dark...
grapes. A passito and liquoroso style made from the same grapes can also be produced under the Sciacchetra designation. - Colli di Luni DOC - Red and white wine DOC producing wine from SangioveseSangioveseSangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove"...
, CanaioloCanaioloCanaiolo is a red Italian wine grape grown through Central Italy but is most noted in Tuscany. Other regions with plantings of Canaiolo include Lazio, Marche and Sardegna. In Umbria a white berried mutation known as Canaiolo Bianco exist...
, CiliegioloCiliegioloCiliegiolo is a variety of red wine grape from Italy, named after the Italian for 'cherry'. It is a minor component of traditional blends such as Chianti, but interest has revived in recent years...
, TrebbianoTrebbianoTrebbiano is the second most widely planted grape in the world. It gives good yields, but makes undistinguished wine at best. It can be fresh and fruity, but does not keep long. Its high acidity makes it important in Cognac production...
and Vermentino. - Colline di Levanto DOC - Red and white wine DOC producing wine from Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Vermentino, Albarola and Bosco.
- Golfo del Tigullio DOC - Red, white, roséRoséA rosé is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.- Production techniques :There are three major ways to produce rosé...
and sparkling wineSparkling wineSparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
DOC producing wine from Ciliegiolo, DolcettoDolcettoDolcetto is a black wine grape variety widely grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The Italian word dolcetto means "little sweet one", but it is not certain that the name originally carried any reference to the grape’s sugar levels: it is possible that it derives from the name of the...
, Vermentino, Bianchetta and MoscatoMoscatoMoscato can have several meanings see:*Muscat *Judah Moscato *Vincent Moscato...
. A passito style dessert wineDessert wineDessert wines are sweet wines typically served with dessert.There is no simple definition of a dessert wine. In the UK, a dessert wine is considered to be any sweet wine drunk with a meal, as opposed to the white fortified wines drunk before the meal, and the red fortified wines drunk after it...
from non-aromatic local varieties can also be produced under this DOC. - Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC - Red and white wine DOC producing wine from Dolcetto (known locally as Ormeasco), PigatoPigatoPigato is a white Italian wine grape planted primarily in Liguria. As a varietal, Pigato produces highly aromatic wines....
, RosseseRosseseRossese is a red Italian wine grape variety that is planted primarily in Liguria. The wines produced from Rossese are a local specialty found around Dolceacqua.-Synonyms:...
and Vermentino. - Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC - Red wine only DOC producing wine from the Rossese grape (known locally as Rossese di Ventimiglia)
- Val Polcevera DOC - Red, white and sparkling wine DOC producing wine from Dolcetto, Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, BarberaBarberaBarbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy . It produces good yields and is known for deep color, low tannins and high levels of acid...
, Vermentino, Bianchetta, Albarola, Pigato, Bosco and Rollo.