Liguria

Question 1

Where is Liguria Located?

Answer 1

Liguria is a crescent shaped strip running along Italy’s Mediterranean Coast running from the French border to Tuscany.

Question 2

What is the general topography of Liguria?

Answer 2

Liguria is incredibly rugged. The Apennine Mountains descend virtually all the way to the sea

Question 3

True or False:

More than half of Liguria’s production is DOC wine.

Answer 3

True.

Question 4

What is the overall climate of Liguria?

Answer 4

Mediterranean, as one might expect.

Question 5

What are the major grapes found in Liguria?

Answer 5

Bosco
Pigato [aka Vermentino]
Rossese
Sangiovese
Oremasco [aka Dolcetto]

Question 6

What is Scimiscia?

Answer 6

Scimiscia is an indigenous white grape varietal saved from extinction and added to the official Italian register in 2003

Question 7

Pigato also goes by the name of __________.

Answer 7

Vermentino

Question 8

Oremasco is the Ligurian name for which varietal?

Answer 8

Dolcetto

Question 9

Granaccia is the local Ligurian name for which varietal?

Answer 9

Alicante

Question 10

What is Liguria’s most we’ll-known wine?

Answer 10

The whites of Cinque Terre

Question 11

Cinque Terre is made from what grape or combination of grapes?

Answer 11

Cinque Terre DOC is produced mainly from Bosco but may also include Albarola and/or Vermentino

Question 12

What is Sciacchetra?

Answer 12

Sciacchetra is the Ligurian term for Passito Bianco wines.

Question 13

List the grapes used in Cinque Terre as well as their percentages:

Answer 13

Bosco [minimum 40%]
Albarola +/or Vermentino [maximum 40%]

maximum 29% other white grapes used in the province

Question 14

What two DOCs concentrate on Vermentino in Liguria?

Answer 14

Colli di Luni DOC

Riviera Ligure di Ponete DOC

Question 15

What style[s] of wine is produced in Pornassio DOC?

Answer 15

Dry or sweet, red and rose wines made almost exclusively from Ormeasco [aka Dolcetto]

Question 16

Dolceacqua specializes in which grape?

Answer 16

Rossese

Question 17

Do any of Liguria’s DOCs specialize in Rossese? If so, which one[s]?

Answer 17

Yes! Rossese has its own DOC called Dolceacqua [or Rossese di Dolceacqua].

Question 18

What characteristics are common to Rossese?

Answer 18

Rossese combines aromas of blackcurrants and roses with power and delicacy.

Question 19

Rossese has sometimes been compared to which varietal?

Answer 19

Pinot Noir

Question 20

Does Rossese go by any there names? If so, what?

Answer 20

Yes, Rossese also goes by the name Tibouren

Question 21

When was Dolceacqua established as a DOC?

Answer 21

1972