Verdejo

Verdejo is a dry, crisp white from Spain, best known from the Rueda region, with flavours of lime, green apple and grapefruit alongside herbs, tropical fruit and a subtle bitter edge. Fresh, aromatic and seriously refreshing, it’s brilliant with seafood, sushi, salads, roast chicken, tapas and grilled vegetables.

Taste:

Zesty, aromatic and bringing a little Spanish sunshine with it.

Verdejo is typically dry and light to medium-bodied, with bright acidity and flavours of lime, lemon, grapefruit and green apple. Riper examples can bring peach, melon and tropical fruit into the mix.

Fresh herbs are another signature, sometimes joined by floral aromas and a subtle mineral character. Many Verdejos also have a distinctive slightly bitter finish, often reminiscent of grapefruit or almond.

Most are made to be fresh and fruit-forward, although richer, barrel-fermented and aged styles exist too.

Crisp enough for the first glass. Interesting enough to justify the second.

Food Pairings:

Verdejo's citrus, herbs and acidity make it brilliant with seafood and fresh Mediterranean food.

Try it with prawns, mussels, crab, calamari, grilled fish, sea bass, cod or seafood salad. Seafood pasta, garlic prawns and fish tacos are great matches too.

Sushi, sashimi and ceviche work beautifully with its fresh citrus character.

For Spanish food, pair Verdejo with tapas such as garlic prawns, tortilla española, croquetas, grilled vegetables or lighter charcuterie.

It also works well with roast chicken, grilled chicken and chicken dishes with lemon, garlic or fresh herbs.

For meat-free meals, try goat's cheese salad, asparagus, grilled courgette, roasted peppers or fresh green salads.

On the cheese board, goat's cheese, Manchego and other fresh to medium-strength cheeses are great choices.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc is a natural next move for more citrus, herbs and refreshing acidity.

Albariño offers similarly bright Spanish freshness with a distinctive coastal, salty edge, while Viura is another important Spanish white with green fruit and citrus flavours.

Grüner Veltliner is also worth exploring if it's Verdejo's fresh, herbal and slightly savoury side that you love most.

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More About Verdejo:

Verdejo is most closely associated with Rueda in Castilla y León, northwestern Spain, where it has been grown for centuries.

The grape's name comes from verde, meaning green, a reference to the green colour of its berries.

Historically, Verdejo was often used to make oxidative, fortified-style wines. Modern temperature-controlled winemaking completely changed its fortunes, allowing producers to preserve the fresh citrus, fruit and herbal aromas that now define the style.

Today, Rueda and Verdejo are almost inseparable, although Sauvignon Blanc and other permitted grapes are also grown in the region.

Centuries-old grape. Modern makeover. Suddenly everywhere.

Another successful rebrand for the wine industry.