Tre Bicchieri 2026, the best wines of Liguria awarded by Gambero Rosso

Sep 19 2025, 16:19 | by Gambero Rosso

Record number of award-winning wines this year in Liguria, with whites naturally taking the lion’s share, but there’s also a red. Here they are

The unique characteristics and charm of the Ligurian territorial conformation seem to go hand in hand with those of its wines. We are talking about a strip of land stretching 350 kilometres: as you travel along it, it’s impossible not to be enchanted by the steep slopes, the high Apennine peaks emerging from the sea. And it is precisely on these slopes that we find small patches of land where the traditional grape varieties are cultivated.

The heroic viticulture of Liguria

If there is one place where we can speak of heroic viticulture, it is certainly here. The winemakers have little possibility of using mechanical equipment or tractors, since the work is carried out almost entirely by hand, by true artisans of wine. The total vineyard area is very limited, about 1,500 hectares overall, but the quality is truly high, and above all transversal, spanning across several types and numerous varieties. 65% of production is white, thanks to certain grape varieties found in several areas. One of these is undoubtedly Vermentino, the great Mediterranean grape variety, which nowhere else manages to express the typical Mediterranean aromas with such a distinctly Ligurian character.

It is precisely to Vermentino that we dedicated the cover story of the September 2025 issue of Gambero Rosso magazine, with an interview with Diego Bosoni, also known as Mr. Vermentino, who explains to us the reasons behind the success of this wine with its eclectic identity.

Record number of award-winning wines

As many as seven wines have been awarded Tre Bicchieri in the 2026 edition of Vini d’Italia by Gambero Rosso, a record number. Of these, unsurprisingly, four are Vermentino from the Colli di Luni, and one from the Riviera Ligure di Ponente (the excellent white by Laura Aschero). Moving westwards, two Pigato also reach the top, the other great Ligurian grape variety. To these we can add a delightful red, a Rossese also from the Riviera di Ponente.