The Durin estate, named after the Ligurian nickname for grandfather Isidoro, represents three generations of dedicated farming in the Arroscia valley. In the late seventies, Antonio Basso left a medical career to return to his family's roots, reviving old traditions and focusing entirely on the indigenous varieties of Liguria. Today, Antonio and his wife Laura tend to hundreds of tiny, terraced vineyard plots scattered across steep hillsides just miles from the Mediterranean Sea. This is heroic viticulture with vines clinging to limestone and sandy soils at elevations ranging from near sea level to over two thousand feet. It is a rugged, sun-drenched landscape that produces white wines of profound character and coastal energy.
Pigato, genetically identical to Vermentino but distinct in its local expression, takes its name from the dialect word for "spotted," referring to the freckled appearance of the ripe grapes. The 2024 vintage from Durin is a profound expression of Ligurian terroir. Harvested by hand from vines averaging half a century in age, the grapes undergo a brief cold maceration before fermenting on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine then rests in tank for a year, developing a rich, textured palate without the influence of oak. The result is a brilliantly aromatic white, bursting with notes of white peach, citrus blossom, and fresh almond, all anchored by a deeply savory, briny minerality that unmistakably evokes the nearby sea.