Tre Bicchieri 2024, the best wines from Liguria awarded by Gambero Rosso

Tre Bicchieri 2024 of Liguria. The specialization for grape varieties

Here are the wines that this year received Tre Bicchieri, the highest award given by Gambero Rosso's Vini d'Italia guide.

Liguria remains a region of unparalleled allure, and its wine contributes substantially to this reputation. It's essential first to recognize the region’s unique geography. The vines here are often situated just a stone's throw from the sea, yet they are planted on precipitous slopes at surprising elevations. This results in a challenging, almost "heroic" form of viticulture that only the most skilled vintners—those artisans truly devoted to (and in love with) the land—can persevere in. Of course, we're speaking of tiny patches that, when taken together, sum up to a rather limited area.

Given these challenges, the quality of the wine is undeniably high, and continues to evolve thanks to new developments that we aim to highlight each year. This year there are a few noteworthy additions that stand alongside the established producers: some are recently founded estates, some led by young winemakers, and others hail from rediscovered viticultural areas. The most significant growth in recent years has been observed in eastern Liguria, a territory that proudly parades its semi-aromatic white grape, vermentino, which stands as one of the Mediterranean's stars, offering unique nuances depending on where it’s grown. A prime example is the award-winning "Etichetta Nera ’22'' by Lunae Bosoni—a producer who, this year, inaugurated a new winery close to the existing one, showcasing state-of-the-art technology with a low environmental impact. Still on the topic of Colli di Luni vermentino, other notable wines include Terenzuola’s "Vigne Basse ’22" and the "Sarticola ’22" from Baia del Sole—both producers who consistently demonstrate their wine's value year in, year on. Sticking with vermentino and still focusing on the region’s easternmost part (near the Magra river), we have the acclaimed "Boceda ’22" by Zangani. Another highlight is the Vermentino from Cà du Ferrà, a standout newcomer this year. The showstopper is "Luccicante ’22", a white from the hills of Levanto. This estate is located further west, in the province of La Spezia, offering a stunning sea view, where the marine breezes endow the wine with pronounced sapidity.

Another area that stands out for its sheer uniqueness this year (for the first time in the guide's history) gave birth to Cheo’s Cinqueterre Sciacchetrà—a sweet wine rooted in ancient local traditions, showcasing elegance, finesse, and an incredible balance between sweetness and freshness in the 2020 vintage. Last but certainly not least, we mention the celebrated wine from western Liguria, the "Dolceacqua Posaù ’21" by Maccario Dringenberg, a producer that has become a benchmark of quality for this crucial red.