Verdicchio

For a long time, this fresh Mediterranean white wine led a shadowy existence in the Marche hinterland. Yet hardly anything goes so well with seafood and fish as this fragrant, racy and mineral wine from central Italy. This was certainly already known in ancient times: Verdiccio wine is said to have been known to the ancient Etruscans and gave the Visigoths strength for the assault on Rome. Its first documented mention dates back to the 14th century, in the Marche region. This is where it is still mainly grown. Although it can also be found in Umbria, Abruzzo and Sardinia, no other wine-growing region produces the kind of wine made by winegrowers in the Marche hinterland: The best, dry quality wines, racy, full-bodied and crisp. For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that wine researchers classify the grape as part of the Greco-Trebbiano grape family. Although the crisp white is probably the best partner for all table-ready water creatures, it does not grow on the coast but in the hinterland, in the foothills of the central Italian Apennines. The climate here is mild and balanced, with warm days and fresh nights. This is thanks to the sea breezes from the Adriatic. The Marche lies between the sea and the mountains, bordering Emilia Romagna and the Republic of San Marino to the north, Abruzzo to the south and Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio to the west. There are two Verdicchio denominations: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Verdicchio Matelica. Castelli di Jesi is the better-known area; around 90% of Verdicchio wines are grown here in the gently rolling hills that stretch from the Adriatic coast to the first higher mountains. Here, picturesque villages adorn the hilltops like little crowns, sleepily scattered around the small town of Jesi. Here in this moderately dry climate, the late-ripening grape feels at home; the long, dry summers give it enough time to fully ripen and it rewards this with wines with plenty of juicy fruit. Verdicchio di Matelica is less extensive, covering only around 450 hectares and is therefore rather rare. In the high mountain valley, deeper inland and with no connection to the sea, the climate is harsher and more continental. The mountain winds of the Apennines can be bitingly cold at times, with snow-covered mountain peaks towering in the distance. Here the nights are fresh and the grapes ripen slowly, it takes more time for the vines to warm up. But during the cool nights, they produce extracts and fine acidity. Good Matelica wines are more aromatic and mineral than other Verdicchios, but also lighter in weight. Both have a fine, elegant bitter note reminiscent of sweet almonds. And the wines have a strong acidity, are full-bodied and present a fresh fruit bouquet with apple, pear and peach aromas. Verdicchio is mainly marketed as a young wine, but can also age excellently. For treasure hunters, Verdicchio is a stroke of luck: it always scores top marks in the ratings, but word of its quality and finesse has not yet spread to the "wine normalo". That is why we vehemently believe it is a top wine with exciting prices.