Best Ligurian Beverage Types
Chinotto is a carbonated soft drink made from the juice of the chinotto fruit. This beverage has been produced since the early 20th century in Liguria region of Italy. The chinotto fruit, a small and intensely bitter citrus fruit, imparts a distinctive flavor to the drink that balances sweetness with a pronounced bitter note.
The primary ingredients include chinotto fruit extract, sugar, carbonated water, caramel color, and various natural flavors. The flavor profile is often described as a mix between cola and citrus with herbal undertones. Chinotto is typically dark in color, similar to cola, and is carbonated.
Vermentino is a white grape variety predominantly grown in several Mediterranean wine regions, especially in Northern Italy and Sardinia. It is particularly known for producing crisp, aromatic white wines. Vermentino wines are known for their vibrant acidity and crispness.
They often exhibit aromatic notes of citrus (lemon, lime), green apple, pear, and stone fruits. Floral notes and hints of Mediterranean herbs are also common. The wines typically have a mineral character, sometimes with a saline quality reflecting the coastal vineyards where they are often grown.
VARIATIONS OF Vermentino
THE BEST Vermentino Wine Varieties
Locally known as Asinello and classified as vermouth, Corochinato is a fortified and aromatized wine that hails from Genova. The base of the drink is made with fortified white wine that is infused with a secret blend of herbs and spices such as wormwood, gentian, cinnamon, thyme, oregano, and juniper.
The recipe has not been changed since the drink was invented in 1886. Corochinato has a straw yellow color that is streaked with golden highlights, while the herbal aromas perfectly complement its bittersweet aftertaste. This aromatic wine is mostly enjoyed as an aperitif or a digestif, and it is best served well-chilled and accompanied by a slice of lemon.
Cinque Terre wine region predominantly produces fragrant white wines that are based on Bosco grapes, with the addition of Vermentino or Albarola varieties. The wines are typically light and fresh, with mineral hues, good acidity, and aromas of citrus, fruit, and dry flowers.
They are best paired with regional seafood dishes, including appetizers and main courses, while they go exceptionally well with fried fish and local Santo Stefano d'Aveto cheese. The DOC Cinque Terre also includes passito-style Sciacchetrà wine.
This amber-colored dessert wine is based on Bosco grapes, which must constitute at least 40% of the blend, while the other significant grape varieties include Albarola and Vermentino. The wine is produced with a passito method in which the grapes are air-dried before they are processed - which helps to concentrate natural sweetness and flavor in the wine. Sciacchetrà is a sweet and harmonious wine that usually displays aromas of honey, dried fruit, apricot jam, and herbs, with underlying notes of toffee and hazelnut.
Although it can be enjoyed on its own, it is a perfect match to traditional desserts, as well as aged cheese.
Rossese is a red wine grape variety predominantly grown in the Liguria region of Italy, particularly in the Riviera Ligure di Ponente. This grape produces wines that are typically light to medium-bodied with a bright, ruby-red color. The aroma profile of Rossese wines often includes red berries, cherries, and floral notes, sometimes complemented by subtle hints of herbs and spices.
On the palate, these wines are known for their refreshing acidity and smooth tannins, making them approachable and easy to drink. The flavors tend to reflect the aromatic profile, with vibrant red fruit and a slightly earthy undertone. Rossese wines are generally best enjoyed young, although some can benefit from a few years of aging.
VARIATIONS OF Rossese
Scimiscià is a rare native Italian white variety that hails from Liguria. It is one of the ancient Ligurian grapes that was on the verge of extinction by the 1990s. It was saved and later promoted by local enthusiasts who wanted to preserve this rare local gem.
The grape is mainly cultivated in Fontanabuona valley, between Chiavari and Lavagna, and it is mostly made into dry white wines. Scimiscià-based wines are straw-colored, light, and approachable. They usually have fruity and floral notes reminiscent of citrus fruit, acacia, and white flowers.
These ruby red wines are mainly produced in western Liguria with Rossese as the principal grape variety. Although their main characteristics can vary, Dolceacqua wines are usually light and fragrant with typical notes of herbs, roses, violets, and red fruit, while they commonly display a pleasant, bitter finish.
They can be enjoyed young, but they also age well, resulting in well-structured wines that have good acidity, low tannins, and soft and mellow flavor. These food-friendly wines can match a variety of dishes but are best paired with red meat or game.
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