November 11th, 2015 – Behind every label, Liguria’s wines capture the story of sacrifices and satisfaction of many families: some may describe Liguria’s viticulture as “heroic”, and they’re not wrong: the particular shape of the region, wedged between the Alps, the Apennines and the sea, makes it extremely difficult to cultivate grapes. The mountainous territory exceeds 60% of the total area, and the remaining pieces of land are hilly. However, despite being a niche market with limited production (about 5 million bottles), Liguria’s wines are prized and appreciated in Italy and in the world for their quality: far superior to the uniqueness and variety of the grapes. The latest confirmation comes from Milan: after the success of Expo, Liguria’s wines received new awards from prestigious international publications that judged them the best, especially if combined with fish. In a lengthy article by Irene Virbila, the Los Angeles Times enhances the unsurpassed quality of the 2014 Cascina Praie Pigato Il Canneto, describing it as “an elegant white wine made from Liguria’s native Pigato grape tasting of flowers, sea and salt and with a beautiful balance between fruit and minerality and a touch of bitter almond at the end. The wine is delicate and complex, a wonderful match with smoked trout”. For the British newspaper The Guardian, an absolutely essential wine is the Rossese di Dolceacqua, which, according to David Williams, “is delicate in colour, brisk in feel, and haunting in herb-inflected red-cherry flavour.” David Williams also celebrates the Vermentino of Luni, “a wine that approximates its feel and flavours, while bringing refreshing qualities of its own. It’s made from vermentino, a white grape that flourishes across the Mediterranean thanks to its ability to soak up heat without losing its acidic zip and bite, and here is rooted on the border of Liguria and Tuscany south of Genoa. It has a delightful floral scent, green herbs, a ripple of citrus and peach and just a touch of almonds and olive oil. (Red)
