The Five Villages of Cinque Terre and Her Fine Wines

by gabrielelagona | January 25th, 2009

As the earth changed its form over millions of years in eastern Liguria, numerous bays and peninsulas formed between two great headlands. One of these regions in Italy is called Cinque Terre. The five towns or villages that make up this renowned area are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Though Italy is famous all over the globe for her winemaking skills, Cinque Terre has her own special vineyards that make a variety of unique wines.

Those that travel to Italy to sample the grapes should make it a point not to miss Cinque Terre with all her coastal charm, sunshine and a laid back lifestyle sure to relax even the tensest business person.

Monterosso’s Annual Lemon Festival

During the season of the Pentacost, Monterosso plays host to the Lemon Festival where the Cinque Terre wine limocino, is featured. It is a refreshing dessert wine made with pure alcohol with lemon peels steeped with water and sugar added to make a liqueur that is fresh and fragrant. The denizens of Cinque Terre are proud to be known for their limoniti or lemon groves as well, where the sumptuous lemons grow.

Another dessert wine greatly prized from Cinque Terre is Sciaccherta. It is made from prime grapes which are dried until there are just a few drops of the sweet juice left. Cinque Terre is also known for her dry white wine of the same name.

Not Much Has Changed

In the passing years the Grape Routes or The Sentieri dell’Uva remain almost unchanged. The fig trees are still positioned to provide shade and still agaves are planted in order to mark the footpaths that meander through the groves, line the stony, precipitous steps and also to line the monorails’ route in order to show where the rail terminals are located. The monorails have only recently been added and are just about the only noticeable change visible in years. The terraced landscape also needs the help of dry stone walls in order to support it.

What may make Cinque Terre wines so special is that the tracks of the grapes flow down to the shore. What may have made them so well known was the ability to transport them to nearby villages. When one is visiting Cirque Terre they can be sure they will not go thirsty.

Have you tried a great wine from the Cinque Terre ? Tell us about it !