Corniglia and its vineyards - Photo ©
Blaine Crowther
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I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Liguria Region
An article by: Levi Reiss
If you are looking for fine Italian wine and food, consider the
Liguria region of northern Italy. You may find a bargain, and I hope
that you’ll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour.
Liguria, also known as the Italian Riviera, is located in the
northwest corner of Italy. It borders France, Monaco, and has a 350
kilometer (over 200 mile) coastline on the Ligurian Sea.
The region is
hilly and mountainous, but has been inhabited since prehistoric times.
The Romans captured Liguria in the Second Century B. C. It was
subsequently conquered by Barbarians and by the Lombards.
In area it is
the third smallest Italian region with a population of about 1.6
million. |
The land in Liguria tends not to be particularly fertile.
Agricultural products include flowers, olive oil, fruits, and
vegetables. Some claim that Liguria introduced pasta to Italy. Most of
the pasta is wheat. Pesto is a regional specialty. A wide variety of
seafood is available. Heavy industry is on the decline. Tourism is so
important that in some areas the July and August population is ten or
fifteen times that of the slow season. The area is particularly popular
with retirees.
Liguria’s capital and largest city is Genoa, a city of six hundred
thousand. Parts of the old city have been placed on the World Heritage
list as of 2006. Among its many sights are the home in which Christopher
Columbus was said to be born, and La Lanterna, the oldest working
lighthouse in the world. Another special tourist destination is Cinque
Terre, five tiny villages along the coast. They are a hiker’s paradise,
but make sure that you are in good shape before attempting the complete
route of about 13 kilometers (8 miles). This area is home to two DOC
wines, Cinque Terre and Cinque Terre Sciacchetra', neither of which is
often found in North America.
Liguria devotes slightly under twelve thousand acres to grapevines,
it ranks 19th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine
production is about 4.4 million gallons, also giving it a 19th place.
About 34% of the wine production is red or rose', leaving 66% for white.
The region produces 8 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine
Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled
Origin. Almost 14% of Ligurian wine carries the DOC. Liguria is home to
almost three dozen major and secondary grape varieties, somewhat more
white than red varieties.
No international white grape varieties are widely grown in Liguria,
whose most important white grapes are Bosco, Pigato, and Vermentino.
Given its limited wine production, little Ligurian wine is exported to
North America. In the unfortunate absence of any Ligurian wines, we are
reviewing a Vermentino-based wine from Tuscany. If I am ever in Liguria,
I promise to drink and review a few local wines.
No international red grape varieties are widely grown in Liguria. The
best-known Italian red variety is Sangiovese, which is grown elsewhere
including California. Other Ligurian red varieties include Rossese,
Ciliegiolo, and Ormeasco, also known as Dolcetto.
Before reviewing the Ligurian-style wine and Italian cheese that we
were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian
food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous
wines when touring this beautiful region.
Start with Torta Pasqualina; Artichoke Savory Pie. For the second course
try Cappon Magro; Ligurian Seafood Caponata (you may have to order this
dish in advance).
As dessert indulge yourself with Pandolce; Sweet Bread From Genoa.
About the Author
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the
Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other
wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an
Ontario French-language community college. His wine website is
www.theworldwidewine.com. You
can reach him at ital@mail.theworldwidewine.com.
Wine Italy |
