Boundaries: Piedmont to the North
and Emilio-Romagna to the Northeast. The Tyrrhanian Sea bounds the
region from France to Tuscany. Liguria is crescent-shaped with Genoa
at its center.
Climate: Mild winters.
Soil: Steeply sloped terraces and
poor-nutrient soil.
Liguria has around 100 different grapes and is home
to six DOC wines. These are: (1) Cinqueterre, (2) Colli di Luni, (3)
Colline di Levanto, (4) Golfo del Tigullio, (5) Riviera Ligure di
Ponente, that has a number of fine whites, reds and roses, and the
red (6) Rossese di Dolceacqua.
Cinqueterre is produced in the province, La Spezia,
a white wine that is in the area known as the "five villages".
The area is only accessible by boat, rail or foot. This is where some
of the best wines of the region are produced. The mountains that surround
the area protect the vines from the northward winds yet allows for
plenty of sun. Harvesting grapes presents unique challenges where
workers must access the plants from boat or where workers must be
lowered to the vines by ladder or rope.
