Verdejo is a variety of wine grapes that have long been grown in the Rueda region of Spain. It originated in North Africa and was spread to Rueda in the 11th Century, possibly by Mozarabs.
It was used to make a strongly oxidized, Sherry-like wine. After the Reconquest of Toledo, the Duero area was repopulated by Asturians, Vascones, and Mozarabs.
The first vines of this variety in Spain were planted in Toro and Tierra del Vino and the region of Madrigal de las Altas Torres and Rueda during the reign of Alfonso VI.
Is Verdejo Wine Dry?
Verdejo is distinguished by its light body, lack of sweetness, and citrus overtones.
The wine also has a noticeable acidity, making it a very crisp and dry white wine that is very pleasant in the correct weather.
Verdejo is an extremely fruity wine with prominent lime characteristics.
Green melons, peaches, and grapefruit are among the other fruit aromas detected in this wine. It’s fairly unusual to notice traces of fennel and grass while drinking Verdejo.
What Does Verdejo Wine Taste Like?
Verdejo has a green herbal flavor similar to Sauvignon White, but with flavors of satsuma, lemon, fennel, and almonds, as well as a strong acidity.
The traditional fortified style is similar to sherry, but some producers are now aging it in oak barrels and stirring lees (dead yeast cells), which adds texture and develops flavors of almonds and, sometimes, honeysuckle.
Young, crisp Verdejo is best served cold, whilst richer varieties should be served somewhat warmer.
What Wines are Comparable to Verdejo?
Verdejo, which is comparable in style and tastes to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, is a refreshing aperitif as well as a fantastic meal partner wine.
Verdejo wines are produced in two different styles. It is most often found as a ready-to-drink, light and crisp wine with herbaceous aromas and fresh fruit tastes.
Tasting Notes.
Verdejo makes delicate, refreshing white wines with notes of lime, grapefruit, grass, fennel, and almonds.
It contains strong acidity and some green flavors, similar to Sauvignon Blanc, but takes on a deeper, nuttier texture when matured in a bottle or barrel.
How Is Verdejo Wine Produced?
Verdejo grapes, like many other types, are picked at night when colder temperatures prevent oxidation and help keep the acidity and freshness of the grapes.
This implies that the grapes enter the cellar at a lower nightly temperature of 10-15 °C (50-59 °F) rather than the daytime temperature, which in September might reach 28-30 °C (82-86 °F). Lower temperatures result in less juice oxidation or browning.
How to Identify the Verdejo Varieties? (Characteristics).
Verdejo grapes are tiny to medium-sized compact clusters of thick-skinned grapes with a characteristic blue-greenish bloom.
It has early-medium budding and ripening characteristics.
Since it is not extremely robust or fruitful, lengthy pruning is advised.
Another noteworthy feature is that it is a drought-resistant species that adapts well to clay soils deficient in organic matter. It is also very susceptible to powdery mildew.
- The top ten finest verdejo wine bottles to try
- Bodega Belondrade y Lurton Verdejo 2007
- Ossian ‘Capitel’ Blanco 2018
- Wine from Castilla Leon de la Tierra 2014
- Campo Eliseo Blanco 2015
- Menade ‘Sobrenatural’ 2018
- Bodegas Jose Pariente Finca ‘Las Comas’ Verdejo Bodegas Jose Pariente Cuvee Especial Verdejo 2017
- Microbio Wines ‘Nieva York’ Pet’Nat’ Blanco 2020 2017
- Rodriguez Sanzo ‘Vina Sanzo’ Verdejo 2014
- Rolland & Galarreta Verdejo 2019
- Telmo Rodriguez Compania de Vinos El Transistor
1. Bodega Belondrade y Lurton Verdejo 2007.
This wine from the renowned Belondrade vineyard exudes scents of juicy mango and preserved lemon. It has an oily palate with outstanding acidity.
2. Ossian ‘Capitel’ Blanco 2018 Wine de Castilla León de la Tierra.
This Verdejo wine has a smooth palate with aromas of melon, apple, and vanilla.
White peach and wood grain scents greet the nose.
3. Menade ‘Sobrenatural’ from 2015.
This white wine has scents of pastry cream and caramelized apples on the nose.
The taste is creamy but delicate, with the salinity, acidity, and sweetness properly balanced.
4. Verdejo Bodegas José Pariente Finca ‘Las Comas’ 2018.
It has an unctuous tongue with traces of aniseed and a salty aftertaste. This Rueda D.O. wine begins with fennel and floral aromas.
5. Campo Eliseo Blanco 2014.
The aroma of this wine is characterized by fresh herbs, cherry, and chocolate flavors.
The palate is full-bodied and complex, with strong tannins.
6. Jose Pariente Cuvee Especial Verdejo 2017.
This Rueda wine has a smooth texture and fresh aromas that are enhanced by toasted almond notes on the tongue. It has a white fruit scent with a hint of minerality on the nose.
7. Microbio Wines ‘Nieva York’Nat Blanco 2020.
The bouquet of this sparkling wine is dominated by aromas of stone fruit and white peach. The taste is light and pleasant, with extremely small bubbles.
8. Verdejo Rodriguez Sanzo ‘Vina Sanzo’ 2017.
This wine has exotic fruit aromas and a well-balanced, full-bodied palate. As this Rueda Verdejo wine is opened, tropical fruit flavors with a hint of balsamic emerge.
9. Rolland & Galarreta Verdejo 2014.
This vintage entices the nose with notes of tropical fruit and melon. Its expansive palate explodes with fruit and orange peel aromas before concluding with a lengthy, fresh aftertaste.
10. 2019 Telmo Rodriguez Winery El Transistor.
Fresh fruit aromas are expressed on the tongue, with excellent acidity and a long finish.
This Verdejo is a fantastic wine with a rich fragrance that has scents of pear, green apple, and lemon.
How Do You Take Your Verdejo?
As you may have guessed, pairing Verdejo with food is one of the greatest ways to enjoy it. Because of its greater acidity and slight bitterness, the wine is an excellent palate cleanser.
When matching it with food, keep lime and zesty flavors in mind for the best results, especially with Verdejo which has not been aged in oak.
This Verdejo wine, which has obvious oak aging, would match nicely with heavy cream or coconut-based sauces.
What foods do you pair with Verdejo?
One of the finest ways to enjoy Verdejo is with food. Because of the wine’s greater acidity and slight bitterness, it works well as a palate cleanser.
Consider using Verdejo’s lime and zesty tastes to accent a meal when constructing combinations. As a general rule, if you include lime in your dinner, it will most likely complement Verdejo!
Yet, a Verdejo wine with obvious oak aging would pair well with creamier meals or sauces made with coconut.
Here are several examples:
- Meat: Lime Chicken, Almond Chicken (pollo en pepitoria), Carnitas, Fish Tacos, Sole, Seitan, and Tofu.
- Cheese: Manchego, Queso Zamorano, Pecorino, Feta, Halloumi, Petit Basque, and Ricotta are all sheep’s milk cheeses.
- Herb/Spice: Lime, Tarragon, Cilantro, Basil, Parsley, Garlic, Ginger, Galangal, Sichuan Pepper,
- Cayenne pepper, red pepper flake, cumin, coriander, tamarind, and pine nuts
- Vegetables: potatoes, artichokes, leeks, scallions, bell peppers, asparagus, avocado, rocket, pineapple, coconut, mango, and green onion.
Is Verdejo same as Verdelho?
Verdejo is mostly planted in Spain (where it is famed for being the principal grape in Rueda), while Verdelho is largely produced in Portugal.
How much does Verdejo wine cost?
With all of its complexity and advanced winemaking approaches currently in use, one would expect Verdejo’s prices to rise in lockstep. Nope, not at all. Instead, most Verdejos cost a little over £15.
Those that cost more are generally refined and matured, although they are still far less expensive than their more well-known French equivalents.
Conclusion.
Verdejo grapes are plucked in the middle of the night! In September, Spain can be quite hot, so picking at night preserves the grapes nice and cold.
