The geodiversity of the Ligurian vineyards as a tool to protect the territory

The Liguria region (NW Italy) is characterized by a wide geodiversity, which is strictly correlated with a huge variety of landscapes. This article reports and discusses the results of a multidisciplinary research performed by the University of Genova (DAD and DISTAV), the University of Milano (DISAA) together with the Spin-off society Geospectra s.r.l. and in collaboration with the Associazione Italiana Sommelier (AIS). The main focus of the research was to investigate the relationships among the �geological fingerprint� of soils and the quality of wines (and more in general of agro-food products) going beyond the classical italian quality labels, such as the DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin), the DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) and the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) labels. We applied an innovative multidisciplinary approach which involved the investigation of the geological, geomorphological, geochemical, mineralogical, ecological and vegetational features of selected vineyards occurring in the ligurian terraced landscape. The analytical protocol included routine pedological and minero-petrographical investigations and innovative geochemical analyses by means of field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (FP-EDXRF). Geomorphological evaluation as well as analysis of structural condition of the terraced vineyard were also performed. In the recent past, the same approach was applied by the authors to several other agri-food products (such as apples, olives and olive oils) as well as to wild mushrooms (Boletus edulis) demonstrating the close relationships between the �geological fingerprint� of an area and the organoleptic properties of agricultural products. The preliminary results of this research evidenced that phenotypic differences can be observed in the same vineyard and even in a same cultivar (same genotypes) as a response to local variation of the geo-pedological and ecological features. These results might be the key for the protection of the uniqueness of high-quality local wines and can contrast the outsourcing of these typical agricultural products. The valorization of local production should be also one of the necessary strategies for the protection and the conservation of the ligurian terraced landscape. In fact, most of the abandoned ligurian agricultural terraces are nowadays characterized by an advanced state of deterioration and by high hydrogeological vulnerability. Finally, the high quality wines can become an effective promotional tool for the different ligurian landscapes. Besides being a marketing tool, the �geological label of the wine� might tell us the history and the geography of the terraced landscape of Liguria, thus representing an important instrument for the territorial safeguard, promotion, and valorization.