Curated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier
Genoa is a port city with vineyards hiding just behind it, where Bianchetta Genovese, Coronata and the wines of Val Polcevera bring herbs, citrus, sea air and slate-like minerality straight into the glass.
At a glance
Wine snapshot
Expect lemon peel, green apple, wildflowers, Mediterranean herbs, almond and sea-spray salinity in the whites, bright cherry and spice in Ciliegiolo, fragrant red fruit in Rossese and honeyed dried citrus in Ligurian passito.
Also worth a sip
Genoa has a wonderfully bitter, botanical drinking tradition alongside its wines. Amaro Grande Genova traces its recipe to 1927 and uses 40 botanicals, while Amaro Camatti dates to 1924 and layers ingredients including cinchona, mint and gentian. Genoese basil even makes its way into liqueur, which feels completely appropriate in a city where basil already seems determined to end up in everything delicious.
Try the basil liqueur lightly chilled after dinner and let it sit in the glass for a minute before drinking. The warmth releases more of the herbal perfume and makes the connection to fresh Genoese basil surprisingly clear. For something alcohol-free, a cold Ligurian chinotto with citrus peel gives you the same regional love of bitter flavors in a completely different form.
Common questions
- What wine is Genoa known for?
- Expect lemon peel, green apple, wildflowers, Mediterranean herbs, almond and sea-spray salinity in the whites, bright cherry and spice in Ciliegiolo, fragrant red fruit in Rossese and honeyed dried citrus in Ligurian passito.
- What grapes are grown around Genoa?
- Bianchetta Genovese, Vermentino, Albarola, Bosco, Ciliegiolo, Pigato, Scimiscià, Moscato Bianco.
- Why is Genoa a notable wine stop?
- Genoa lets you taste a wine culture that still belongs directly to the city. Val Polcevera preserves Bianchetta Genovese and historic Coronata in the hills behind the harbor, while Colline del Genovesato even includes Coronata as a rare example of wine produced within an urban landscape.
- Is Genoa a wine destination?
- Genoa has a wonderfully bitter, botanical drinking tradition alongside its wines. Amaro Grande Genova traces its recipe to 1927 and uses 40 botanicals, while Amaro Camatti dates to 1924 and layers ingredients including cinchona, mint and gentian. Genoese basil even makes its way into liqueur, which feels completely appropriate in a city where basil already seems determined to end up in everything delicious.
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Nearby winery
Villa Cambiaso Wine
Local label terms, decoded
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