Colli di Luni Wine

Colli di Luni ('hills of the moon') is a DOC situated near La Spezia in Italy's north-western region of Liguria. Awarded in 1989, the DOC is rare in that it also covers a few municipalities in Tuscany. The land here offers more gently rolling hills, unlike its neighbor Cinque Terre with its steep slopes.

There are three wines produced under the DOC label in Liguria: two whites and one red. The dry rosso is reminiscent of those wines made on the Tuscan coast, since the major red player is Sangiovese, and a few local varieties add their own unique twist. Similar in style to the whites from Montecarlo and Bolgheri, the Colli di Luni Bianco tends to be medium-structured with Vermentino and Trebbiano Toscano playing the leading roles. The quintessential white from this area is the Colli di Luni Vermentino, which mirrors the structure and fruit concentration of the bianco, and does an excellent job of partnering the local cuisine such as testaroli (wholemeal dumplings with pesto).