This weekend I had the good fortune to go sailing in Liguria. We sailed from Bocca di Magra to Portovenere and back. This area is beautiful and incredible to see from the sea. In addition to stunning views from small colorful hilltowns, delicious focaccia and torte salate made with local herbs, this area is well known for its wines. One of its many treasures are the wines from a DOC called Colli di Luni.
I had the occasion to try a wine from Il Torchio, a winery in the Colli di Luni area on Friday evening. It paired perfectly with my grilled calamari. The winery used to be a frantoio, a place where olive oil was made. In order to press the olives, a frantoio used to use a huge stone called Il torchio. This Vermentino di LiguriaLunae, was light and dry with citrus and apple notes as well as floral hints and some minerality. An enologist friend calls Vermentino a semi-aromatic grape, not quite as aromatic as Moscato or Gewurztraminer but mid-way. I love Vermentino in the summer and in the fall. I have often had Vermentino from Cantine Lunae, a cantina run by Paolo Bosoni. Luni is an ancient Roman city near the Magra river. The whole area runs from the Apuan foothills to the Mediterranean and is at the crossroads between Liguria and Tuscany.
Azienda Agricola “Il Torchio”
Via Provinciale, n.202
19030 Castelnuovo Magra (SP)
Tel. e Fax 0187/674075
Cantine Lunae Bosoni
Ortonovo (La Spezia)
Tel 39 0187 660 187
