Pornassio o Ormeasco di Pornassio

"Pornassio", also known as "Ormeasco di Pornassio", is a Protected Designation of Origin that identifies five different types of wines: red, Superiore red, Sciactrà, Passito and Passito liquoroso.

Grapes

All "Pornassio" wines are produced using grapes from vineyards composed of Ormeasco or Dolcetto vines, for a percentage of not less than 95%. The remaining 5% may be obtained from other similarly coloured, non-aromatic berry varieties suitable for cultivation in Liguria.

Physicochemical and Organoleptic properties

An extremely lively ruby colour is the distinctive character of the appearance of the red Pornassio (11% vol.); the aroma is characteristic, persistent and vinous; the flavour is dry, pleasant, of medium body and crossed by a bitterish vein. More delicate, however, is the perfume of the Superiore variant, which has a dry, persistent taste on the palate, enriched by a possible hint of wood. Passito (16.5% vol.) has a ruby red colour tending towards garnet, combined with an intense and persistent aroma and a sweet, full and equally long-lasting flavour. In the variant Passito liquoroso (18% vol.) the tonality is garnet, the persistence of the smell is further strengthened and the taste is enriched with a savoury note. Finally, Sciactrà (10.5% vol.) has an original appearance between pink and coral, with a vinous odour, enriched by a delicate, pleasant and characteristic perfume, and a dry, fresh and harmonious flavour.

Grape production area

The production area is located in the western part of Liguria and is all included in the province of Imperia.

Specificity and historical notes

The spread of the vine in the area of the upper Valle Arroscia probably dates back to the early Middle Ages, as a consequence of the expansion of the crops already present in the nearby Valle del Tanaro.