Riviera Ligure di Ponente
Riviera Ligure di Ponente
The Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOP includes the following wine types: Bianco, Rosso, Passito Bianco, Passito Rosso, and Vendemmia Tardiva (all with grape variety indication only). The designation also includes numerous grape variety and geographical specifications. The Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOP Pigato has a colour ranging from pale straw yellow to straw yellow with golden reflections; the aroma is broad, fruity, and persistent, with distinct hints of ripe peach and honey, fresh field flowers and sage, and subtle notes of moss and forest resins. The taste is dry but smooth, delicately warm, savoury, and well-bodied. It can also come in Passito and Superiore versions.
Insights
The Bianco is excellent as an aperitif and pairs wonderfully with Ligurian cuisine based on fish and herbs. The Rosso complements pasta dishes, white meats, and fairly structured fish dishes.
Features
The viticultural landscape is highly varied, with vineyards mostly located in the lower to mid-hills, even in more inland areas, predominantly on terraced and sometimes steep slopes. The Riviera di Ponente is a hilly strip of land overlooking the Ligurian Sea, protected to the north by the last spurs of the Alps, characterised by narrow valleys and steep slopes. Additionally, the specific grape varieties of this denomination—Pigato, Rossese, and Granaccia—are almost exclusively found in this area and are not present in other wine regions.
How it's made
The predominantly draining and sandy soils impart freshness and savouriness to the wines. These wines are not particularly suitable for aging, with the exception of Granaccia and the superior types, as the region imparts Mediterranean aromas, hints of the sea, and a sense of authenticity to the wine. The flavours, whether fresh and dry but smooth in the whites, or well-bodied in the reds, with a slightly bitter and mildly acidic finish, are characteristics that connect these products to their origin. There is no tradition of rosé wines in these areas.
Experience a journey through ligurian flavours
- Recipes
- Itineraries
- Experiences