A toast to wish happy holidays, it is not a toast without a glass of wine, provinding is Ligurian
The centre of La Spezia is not big and most of the areas are pedestrian, in the last few years many bars have opened, they are perfect places where to spend an evening, but this has deprived the nearby towns of the role of eastern night life centres. It is not just my opinion, you should spend an evening in La Spezia, and see how many young people crowd the main streets of the town centre. The streets where people go strolling day and night, and meet or simply want to be seen there. During the holidays all the streets and corners are lit by many sparkling blue lights, and you can hear the christmas carolls. Let’s see which are the places in La Spezia, wine shops and wineries – but not only – that can offer Ligurian wine by the glass. The ideal for a toast at parties.
La Rosa Blu (Via Carpenino 7, Tel. 0187 719089) is a place where you immediately feel at home, probably because of the courtesy of the owners, or the cozy atmosphere with all the wine bottles on display. “We always have a red and a white Ligurian wine” tells us Susanna Barbieri, one of the three partners of Rosa Blu, together with her sister Valentina and Sabrina Cardini. “At the moment we have the following labels “Fontanera” Santa Caterina, “Pan” by Ilenia Spagnoli and “Sarà Syrah”by Giorgia Grande, Azienda Cornice”.
At a stone’s throw, along Corso Cavour, you can spot the small blue flags placed above the entrance that distinguish La Loggia dè Banchi, a historic place in the town centre (Via Renato Mazzolani, 32 -Tel 0187 022323), Nicola del Vigo, together with other friends all from La Spezia but citizens of the world have taken over some years ago. Talking about Ligurian wines by the glass, at present you can taste Vermentino by Azienda Agricola Il Torchio and Ciliegiolo “Rosa di Maggio” by Arrigoni.
Go back to Corso Cavour, turn left and go towards the pier, in a few minutes you will reach Enoteca dei Bardi (Via Felice Cavallotti 19, Tel. 0187 302155), you can spot a barrel just outside the entrance.
It’s a cozy and intimate place, as all wine shops should be, with a good selection of Ligurian wines. “We offer rotating wines by the glass: Vermentino, Ormeasco, Cinque Terre” explains Ilenia Salvatori, owner of the wine shop. “Today we have Vermentino from Azienda Maneterra and Vermentino Nero” of Terenzuola”.
We go back to Corso Cavour, towards the Market Square, turn right when you get to Beverini Square and you will find yourself in front of Trei Canti (Via Calatafimi, 1-3 Tel. 0187 1861127). Few tables, inside and outside, a friendly atmosphere, in the wine list you can find “La Pietra Focolare”.
At fifty metres distance, going towards Via del Prione, there is Distrò (Via Marsala 8/10, Tel. 0187 701387). This wine bar has a vintage look, there’s nice music and some wine. The bottles from Azienda Agricola Possa in Riomaggiore, are what this wine bar can offer at the moment.
Acqua Farina & Sale
We have to leave the town centre to reach La Cambusa (Viale San Bartolomeo 471, Tel. 0187 503083), Pierfrancesco Fago, the owner, tells us that here among the wines served, you can find Pietra del Focolare, Azienda Agricola Bruna, Forlini Cappellini, Vermentin, Cinque Terre and red wines from Savona are always available.
And finally, another place outside the town centre, in Canaletto, a new entry as regards food and wine, that thanks to the ideas and the quality of its products people have been talking about this place well before it opened, last september. Acqua, Farina e Sale, wines by the glass that often vary. At present the Ligurian wines available are Vermentino from Azienda Agricola “Linero”, Vermentino of the Giannarelli brothers, “La Merla” . Ivan Giuliani (Azienda Terenzuola), and “Bansigu”, a red IPG wine from the hills in Savona (Azienda Bruna).
