Liguria

Introduction

Liguria, the narrow coastal strip that includes Cinque Terre and Portofino, is one of Italy's smallest wine regions by volume, defined by dramatic terraced vineyards clinging to steep hillsides above the Mediterranean.

Terroir and Winemaking

The terraces that make Ligurian viticulture so visually striking also make it labor-intensive and small-scale, which is part of why the region's wines remain relatively obscure outside Italy despite their quality. Vermentino thrives here, producing coastal, saline whites with fresh citrus character shaped directly by proximity to the sea. Pigato, a Ligurian relative of Vermentino, offers a richer, more textured alternative. On the red side, Rossese di Dolceacqua, grown near the French border, produces light, aromatic reds that pair naturally with Liguria's seafood-driven cuisine.