Wine Tourism in Liguria

Liguria and its wines: vineyards between sea and mountains 

In Liguria, winegrowing is deeply connected to a complex landscape where mountains reach the sea and flat land is scarce. The result is a wine-growing landscape of small plots, terraces, dry-stone walls and vineyards that are often difficult to access, where manual work remains an essential part of the process. For visitors, discovering Ligurian wine therefore means encountering not only a product, but also the landscapes and communities that have shaped it. 

From west to east, the region offers a variety of wine-growing areas and productions that can be developed into different wine tourism experiences. In the province of Imperia, Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC is closely associated with the hills and inland villages around Dolceacqua, while the Riviera delle Palme and the Savona area feature vineyards extending from the coast into the inland valleys, with wines covered by the Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC and local varieties such as Pigato, Vermentino and Granaccia. 

In the Genoa area, Bianchetta Genovese and other local varieties tell the story of a lesser-known wine-growing tradition, while around the Tigullio and Gulf of Paradise, vineyards form part of a landscape where the coast, historic villages and hills are closely connected. Further east, the Colli di Luni DOC extends towards the border with Tuscany, in an area where Vermentino is the leading variety and rural landscapes meet historic villages, nature trails and cultural heritage. 

Particularly distinctive is the wine-growing landscape of the Cinque Terre, where vineyards cultivated on terraces overlooking the Mediterranean form one of the region’s most characteristic agricultural landscapes. Here, Cinque Terre DOC wines and Sciacchetrà, the traditional sweet wine, can provide the starting point for experiences combining tastings and winery visits with the discovery of the surrounding territory. 

Ligurian wine tourism includes winery visits and tastings, meetings with producers, vineyard walks and activities connected with local agricultural traditions, as well as experiences combining wine with gastronomy, hiking, villages and coastal landscapes. The relatively small scale of production and the widespread presence of independent producers also encourage direct encounters with the people who cultivate the land and make the wine. 

For tourism operators, Liguria offers the opportunity to incorporate wine into broader itineraries, combining wine-growing areas with cultural heritage, local cuisine, outdoor activities and accommodation in the inland areas. It is an offer particularly suited to thematic travel experiences and itineraries built around the relationship between wine, landscape and local identity.

1. Walking through the terraced vineyards of the Cinque Terre
   An experience combining wine and landscape in the Cinque Terre, where vineyards are cultivated on terraces supported by dry-stone walls overlooking the Mediterranean. Vineyard walks, meetings with local producers and tastings offer an insight into heroic viticulture and the wines of the Cinque Terre, including Sciacchetrà. 
2. Discovering Rossese among the villages of the Riviera dei Fiori 
   In the inland area of Imperia, Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC can be discovered through winery visits, tastings and itineraries connecting vineyards with historic villages in the valley. An experience combining wine, rural landscapes and the cultural heritage of western Liguria. 
3. Tasting Pigato at the winery 
   In western Liguria, meeting local producers and tasting Pigato, Vermentino and other regional wines offers an opportunity to explore a wine-growing tradition closely connected with the Mediterranean climate. Winery visits can be combined with food experiences featuring local products and Ligurian cuisine. 
4. Discovering wine aged beneath the sea 
   Off the coast of Portofino, bottles of Abissi sparkling wine are aged in stainless-steel cages at a depth of around 60 metres. A visit and tasting offer an insight into one of Liguria’s most original wine experiences and the distinctive relationship between wine and the marine environment.
5. Following Vermentino between Liguria and Tuscany 
   In the Colli di Luni area, Vermentino is part of a landscape of hills, villages and vineyards on the border with Tuscany. Winery visits, tastings and food-and-wine itineraries can be combined with the discovery of the historical and natural heritage of the Magra Valley. 

1. Viticoltura eroica
   Gran parte della viticoltura ligure è il risultato di una vera e propria “viticoltura eroica”: vigneti coltivati su ripidi terrazzamenti affacciati sul Mediterraneo, in particolare nelle Cinque Terre. In molte aree, la conformazione del territorio rende impossibile l’uso dei macchinari, e la vendemmia viene quindi effettuata a mano. In alcuni vigneti, piccoli sistemi monorotaia permettono di trasportare l’uva e i materiali lungo i versanti.  
2. L’affinamento sott’acqua
   Al largo di Portofino, una cantina ligure affina il proprio spumante in gabbie d’acciaio inox a circa 60 metri di profondità. Il buio, la temperatura stabile e la pressione dell’acqua creano condizioni particolari per l’affinamento. Quando le bottiglie vengono riportate in superficie, i loro involucri sono spesso ricoperti da organismi marini, rendendo ogni recupero una parte spettacolare della storia del vino.
3. Il mistero del Pigato 
   Il nome Pigato deriva dal termine dialettale ligure pigau, che significa “macchiato” e richiama le caratteristiche macchie color ruggine che compaiono sulla buccia degli acini maturi. Le analisi del DNA hanno dimostrato che Pigato e Vermentino sono geneticamente la stessa varietà, eppure i loro vini possono presentare profili molto diversi. È un esempio significativo di come terroir, clima e tradizioni locali di vinificazione possano influenzare l’espressione di un vitigno.

White grape varieties 

• Vermentino: The most widespread grape variety in the region, producing fresh, savoury and aromatic white wines in both western and eastern Liguria, including the Colli di Luni area. 
• Pigato: A signature variety of the Riviera di Ponente, producing distinctive wines with intense aromas and notes of Mediterranean herbs and almond. 
• Bosco: One of the main grape varieties of the Cinque Terre, used for the area’s dry white wines and for the renowned sweet Sciacchetrà. 
• Albarola: A traditional variety of eastern Liguria, typically used in blends to contribute freshness and acidity. 
• Bianchetta Genovese: A historic grape variety from the Genoa and Tigullio areas, producing fresh, easy-drinking white wines. 
• Lumassina: An indigenous variety from the Savona area, used to produce fresh still and sparkling local wines. 

Red grape varieties 

• Rossese: The leading red grape of western Liguria, known for elegant and complex wines, particularly in the Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC. 
• Ormeasco: A Ligurian biotype of Dolcetto cultivated in the inland areas of Imperia, producing spicy red wines as well as the rosé Sciac-trà. 
• Granaccia: A local variety related to Alicante, widely grown in the Savona area and producing rich, structured and full-bodied red wines. 
• Pollera Nera: An ancient indigenous grape variety of eastern Liguria, traditionally used to add structure to local red wines. 

• I Vini del Cuore – March, Genoa: an event dedicated to wine culture and Italian wine excellence, bringing together producers, wine enthusiasts, journalists and industry professionals. 
• Genova Wine Festival – May, Genoa: a festival dedicated to artisan winemakers and wine culture, with tastings, talks and events held in the city centre. 
• Mare&Mosto – June, Genoa: an event dedicated to wine, olive oil and Ligurian produce, featuring tastings, meetings and insights into the region’s wine-growing traditions. 
• Liguria da Bere – June, La Spezia: a festival dedicated to Ligurian DOC and IGT wines, with regional wineries and tastings in the city centre. 
• Premio Vermentino – July, Diano Castello (Imperia): a competition and event dedicated to Vermentino, featuring tastings, meetings, vineyard activities and initiatives exploring the local wine-growing heritage.  

• La mia Liguria
• AgriLiguria Net