Pigato

Pigato is a white-grape name strongly associated with Liguria in northwestern Italy. Its close identity with Vermentino is an important part of understanding it, but local growers and bottles still give the Pigato name a distinct regional meaning. For a shopper, the useful starting point is a Ligurian wine with a clear producer and place rather than an assumption based only on the name.

The wines can offer citrus and orchard fruit with a savoury or gently herbal dimension, often with enough texture to feel more substantial than a very light aperitif white. Ripeness and cellar handling still matter. A directly made young Pigato and a more textured interpretation need not have the same weight simply because both come from the coastal region.

Try a dry bottle with fish, vegetables, pesto pasta or a meal dressed with olive oil, where both freshness and a little breadth are welcome. Let it warm slightly after pouring if the aromas seem closed from the fridge. When comparing Pigato with a Vermentino from elsewhere, consider the place and producer alongside the grape identity.