Vermentino

Vermentino is a late ripening white variety ideally suited to maritime production, finding primary homes on the Sardinian, Ligurian and Tuscan coasts. Aromatic, with crisp apple and pear notes, touches of almond and often a saline waft, Vermentino can also convey terroir admirably.

Vermentino arguably reaches its greatest heights in the Sardinian DOCG, Vermentino di Gallura, although the long-awaited renaissance of quality wine production from the rugged terraced vineyards on Liguria’s coast has provided a more than worthy rival. Liguria, however, produces a fraction of the Vermentino that is made across the Sardinian denominations, in line with their miserly total regional output. In fact, Tuscany has more plantings of Vermentino than Liguria, but its importance is somewhat less significant.

In Liguria, a clonal variant of Vermentino crops up as Pigato – although most locals argue that it is indeed a distinct variety. In Piedmont it is known as Favorita, though, again, some would say that there are differences, albeit subtle, that mark it as individual.