Liguria Flashcards
What is the main industry in Liguria?
tourism
Who planted first grapes in Liguria?
Liguria tribes ( well before 1000 BCE and before any Etruscan or Greek influence)
What are the four main cities/provinces of Liguria?
Imperia, Savona, Genova, La Spezia
How does Riveria di Ponente differ from Riveria di Levante in Liguria?
Ponente is larger, drier and more diverse
What is the topographic breakdown of Liguria?
65% mountains, 35% hills [no plains]
“Heroic” viticulture applies to which Italian regions?
Vitellina, Valle d’Aosta, Liguria (especially Cinque Terre)
What are the sub-regions of Liguria?
2, Riviera di Ponente and Riviera di Levante
Which sub-region of Liguria produces the most wine?
Riviera di Ponente
What areas border Liguria?
Ligurian Sea, France, Piemonte, Emilia-Romagna [!], Toscana [not Lombardia]
In which Ligurian appellation is flat land used for viticulture?
none
How do the soils of Riveria di Ponente differ from those of Riveria di Levante?
All soils are poor and stony. Ponente: reddish calcareous marl; Levante: clay, sand and limestone [L-limestone]
What is climate of Liguria?
humid Mediterranean
Describe the diurnal temperature swings in Liguria?
low; cold blocked by mountains, heat moderated by sea breezes
Why is Riviera di Levante wetter?
prevailing winds from south and southwest bring sea moisture
How is summer in Liguria?
warm and dry (risk of drought,) moderated by sea breezes
Where are temperatures in Liguria the lowest?
inland
How many grape varieties are in Liguria?
over a 100
What is the role of international grapes in Liguria?
very small, mostly for IGT wines
What is the red/white grape mix of plantings in Liguria?
> 70% white
What is the difference between Pigato and Vermentino?
none genetically; Both produce varietal wines in Riviera di Ponente; Vermentino is used for both varietal labelings and blends.
What are the need to know white grapes in Liguria?
Vermentino, Pigato, Bosco
What Ligurian appellation is associated with Bosco grape?
Cinque Terre DOC in Liguria
What is wine quality pyramid in Liguria?
> 70%/<15%/<15%
What are the need to know red grapes in Liguria?
Rossese, Ormeasco
What grape defines Cinque Terre Bianco DOC in Liguria?
Bosco blended with Vermentino and Albarola
What grape defines Dolceacqua DOC in Liguria?
Rossese
Compare Ormeasco in Liguria to Dolcetto in Piemonte.
Ormeasco tends to be more herbal and lighter in style
What is the most widely planted white grape variety of Liguria?
Vermentino
What is the most widely planted red grape variety of Liguria?
Rossese
Where is Dolceacqua DOC?
Western Liguria along coast and French border
What is Guyot system of training?
low horizontal, one or two new canes are kept every year
The Guyot system of training is most suitable where?
poor, dry hillside soils
What is Cordone speronato system of training?
permanent cordon of old wood trained horizontally [sPEROnato > permanent, old]
The Cordone speronato system of training is most suitable where?
medium to poor soils, allows for mechanical pruning
What is the traditional training in the western part of Liguria?
alberello (head-training) in windy sub-zone
What is the traditional training in the eastern part of Liguria?
overhead pergola
What is peculiar about the training in Cinque Terre in Liguria?
traditional pergola is done in a low variant (similar to western Valle d’Aosta)
How does the wine style differ between western and eastern Liguria?
western Liguria is focused on single-varietal wines; eastern Liguria includes single varietal wines and blends
Summarize differences between western and eastern Liguria? (overarching mnemonic)
[Western: ‘single red head’ > Reddish soil, Single varietal wine, often Rossese, done with Head training; Eastern: ‘lower back pain LBP’ - Limestone and clay soil, Both varietal and Blends, often Bosco, Pergola training]
What is Liguria’s largest DOC (area under vine)?
Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC
What white wine would one expect from Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC?
single varietal, Pigato and! Vermentino
What was first Ligurian wine to achieve DOC status?
Dolceacqua DOC (1972)
What is the most distinctive wine produced in Liguria?
Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC
Ormeasco is linked to what town?
Pornassio
Rossese is linked to what town?
Dolceacqua
What is Sciac-trà?
fruity rosato style from Ormeasco di Pornassio in Liguria [not a sweet white blend!]
What Ligurian producer is known for the best Pigatos?
Albenganese [ap]
What Ligurian producer is known for the best Vermentinos?
Finalese [vf]
Where is Ormeasco di Pornassio located in Liguria?
mountainous inland area, no coastal exposure
What is the most famous wine of Liguria?
rare white passito, Sciacchetrà (only made in exceptional years)
What style of wine is made in Cinque Terre DOC in Liguria?
white blends, dry and sweet passito [not red]
What are the main grapes are found in Cinque Terre in Liguria?
blend of Bosco (body), Vermentino (perfume), Albarola (acidity), other white grapes also allowed [ABV]
Name an inter-regional appellation in Liguria?
Colli di Luni
What does Colli di Luni refer to?
hills of ancient Roman town, Luni, in Liguria
What is the capital of Liguria?
Genoa, major commercial port
What is the minimum aging required for Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà Riserva?
3 years
In what part of Liguria is Vermentino grown?
both Western and Eastern Riviera
What is the percentage of Rossese in Rossesse di Dolceacqua DOC?
95%
What are the DOCG’s in Liguria?
none
When does most of the rain fall in Liguria?
autumn (also significant in winter)
What is the difference between Dolceacqua and Acqui?
Rossese is grown in Dolceacqua DOC in Liguria; Brachetto is grown in Acqui in Monferrato
Albenganese is known for what?
subzone on Riviera di Ponente in Liguria producing Pigato
Finalese is known for what?
subzone on Riviera di Ponente in Liguria producing Vermentino
What styles of wine are made in Pornassio DOC
red appellation in Liguria producing mostly dry, but also rosato (Sciac-trà) sweet passito
