Verdicchio (, <small>also</small> , ) is a white Italian wine grape variety grown primarily in the Marche region of central Italy. The name Verdicchio derives from verde (or "green") and refers to the slight green/yellow hue that wines made from the grape can have.

Verdicchio is the principal grape behind two denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wines produced in the provinces of Macerata and Ancona, Verdicchio di Matelica and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. In addition to producing still wines, Verdicchio grapes are also used to make sparkling wine and straw wine.

History

Verdicchio has had a long history in the Marche region of central Italy with documents noting its presence there since at least the 14th century. Despite its sensitivity to climate conditions and propensity to produce variable yields of variable quality wine, Verdicchio was a very popular planting in central Italy with an estimated 65,000 hectares planted in the mid-1980s. These figures made Verdicchio the 15th most planted variety of any grape in the world, ahead of well-known varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc and Sangiovese.

Wine regions

left|thumb|Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi in the classic Anfora bottle, a DOC wine from Marche, Italy

While Verdicchio is widely grown throughout the Marche, Umbria and Lazio regions, it is most often encountered in the DOC wines of Verdicchio di Matelica and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. Castelli di Jesi, located around the commune of Iesi in the Ancona province, is the larger of the two areas and tends to produce a higher volume of wine. In Matelica, located in the nearby province of Macerata, the yields for Verdicchio are more restricted under DOC regulation with the best vineyard locations situated along hillsides of the Esino Valley.

  • Cerveteri DOC (Lazio) – primarily Trebbiano, Romagnolo, Moscato Giallo and Malvasia with up to 15% of Verdicchio permitted along with Friulano, Bellone and/or Bombino.
  • Circeo DOC (Lazio) – primarily Trebbiano with up to 15% of Verdicchio permitted along with other local white varieties.
  • Colli Maceratesi DOC (Marche) – primarily Maceratino with up to 30% of Verdicchio permitted along with Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Incrocio Bruni, Pecorino (grape), Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. In addition to the still wine, Verdicchio is permitted in the blend of the spumante and passito wines as well.
  • Colli Martani DOC (Umbria) – primarily Trebbiano and/or Grechetto with up to 15% of Verdicchio permitted in these varietally labeled wines along with Garganega and Malvasia.
  • Colli Perugini DOC (Umbria) – primarily Trebbiano with between 15 and 35% of Verdicchio and/or Grechetto and Garganega.
  • Colli Pesaresi DOC (Marche) – can be made primarily of Verdicchio but can also be blended with Biancame, Pinot gris, Pinot noir (w/o any maceration prior to fermentation), Riesling Italico, Sauvignon blanc, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay and Trebbiano.
  • Colli del Trasimeno DOC (Umbria) – primarily Trebbiano with up to 40% of Verdicchio permitted along with Verdello, Malvasia and Grechetto.
  • Controguerra DOC – primarily Trebbiano and Passerina with up to 25% of Verdicchio permitted along with other local white varieties. In the sparkling spumante, Verdicchio, Pecorino and Chardonnay are blended with Trebbiano.
  • Esino DOC (Marche) – 50–100% Verdicchio with other local white varieties permitted up to 50%.
  • Falerio dei Colli Ascolani DOC (Marche) – primarily Trebbiano with up to 15% of Verdicchio permitted along with Passerina, Malvasia, Pinot blanc and Pecorino.
  • Lacrima di Morro d'Alba DOC (Marche) – primarily Lacrima (grape), a red wine, with up to 15% of Verdicchio permitted.
  • Marino DOC (Lazio) – primarily Malvasia and Trebbiano with up to 10% of Verdicchio permitted along with other local white varieties.
  • Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC (Marche) – a minimum of 85% Verdicchio with Trebbiano and Malvasia permitted to fill in the remaining portions of wine. In addition to a still version both a sparkling spumante and sweet passito style are produced in the DOC from Verdicchio.
  • Verdicchio di Matelica DOC (Marche) – a minimum of 85% Verdicchio with Trebbiano and Malvasia permitted to fill in the remaining portions of wine. In addition to a still version a spumante and a passito style are produced in the DOC from Verdicchio.

Wine styles

left|thumb|Verdicchio vines in late October, nearing harvest

Verdicchio can produce wines that are virtually colorless with noticeably high acidity that can come across on the palate with citrus notes. According to wine expert Jancis Robinson, well made examples from favorable vintages can have flavors of lemons and slight bitter almond notes.

See also

  • List of Italian grape varieties

References