Selvadolce, Rucantu Pigato 2022

Selvadolce Rucantu Pigato 2022 is a characterful orange wine from the steep coastal hills of Liguria, Italy, crafted from the local Pigato grape. This is not your standard white: extended skin contact transforms Pigato into something deeper, more textural and evocative of the Mediterranean landscape. Made in small quantities by a quality‑driven grower, it offers a soulful, artisanal take on one of Liguria’s most distinctive varieties.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Rucantu Pigato 2022 shows a luminous amber to deep golden hue, with hints of copper at the rim – a clear nod to its extended skin contact. Swirl the glass and you’ll find an inviting, complex nose of dried apricot, candied citrus peel, chamomile, wild herbs, and a gentle sea-breeze salinity, backed by notes of honey, tea leaves and a subtle nuttiness. On the palate, the wine is dry, layered and wonderfully textural, with fine, tactile tannins that frame ripe stone fruit, orange zest, and a savoury, almost herbal bitterness that keeps everything lifted and fresh. A distinct mineral backbone and salty finish speak clearly of Liguria’s maritime terroir. The 2022 vintage drinks beautifully now for those who enjoy vibrant, structured orange wines, but it also has the concentration and acidity to evolve for another 3–6 years, gaining more tertiary notes of dried fruit, spice and honeyed complexity.

Production
Rucantu is born on terraced vineyards clinging to the coastal hills of Liguria, where Pigato vines look out over the Ligurian Sea and grow in poor, stony soils that naturally limit yields and concentrate flavour. The fruit is typically harvested by hand to ensure only the healthiest bunches make it to the cellar, a crucial step for skin-contact whites. In the winery, Rucantu is made with native yeasts and an extended maceration on the skins, allowing Pigato’s colour, aromatics and tannins to gently infuse the must. The wine is then aged in a mix of neutral vessels that respect the grape’s character – with minimal intervention, limited sulphur and no unnecessary fining or filtration – resulting in an authentic, terroir-driven orange wine.

Food & Serving
This structured, savoury orange Pigato is a versatile partner at the table, particularly with flavourful Mediterranean dishes. Try it with grilled octopus, salt-baked fish, anchovies, or seafood stews, as well as herb-rich Ligurian specialties like pesto alla Genovese, farinata, or rabbit with olives and rosemary. It also stands up beautifully to aged cheeses, charcuterie and mildly spiced North African or Middle Eastern cuisine. Serve slightly cooler than a light red, around 12–14°C (54–57°F), to showcase both freshness and texture. A short decant of 20–30 minutes can help the aromatics open and soften the tannins, especially on the first pour.

Producer
Selvadolce is a small, artisan estate in Liguria that has helped shine a spotlight on the region’s potential for characterful, low-intervention wines. Working primarily with local varieties like Pigato, the producer focuses on expressing the unique coastal terroir through organic or biodynamic-inspired practices, low yields and meticulous work in the vineyard. In a region better known for its scenery than for cutting-edge wine, Selvadolce has emerged as a reference point for thoughtful, terroir-driven bottlings that appeal to lovers of natural and minimal-intervention wines. Their Rucantu Pigato is one of the estate’s emblematic cuvées, showcasing both the strength of the Pigato grape and the distinctive maritime identity of Liguria.

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