Winemaker Notes
Pale yellow in color with greenish reflections, and of medium intensity. It is a clean and bright wine, forming tears. Fresh, with balanced body and acidity, and an intense aftertaste. Fresh fruit with herbal and floral notes reappearing in retronasal. High intensity of fruity and floral aromas with notes of grapefruit and orange blossom. It has herbaceous aromas like fennel, and notes of freshly cut grass.
Perfect with cold dishes such as creams, steamed vegetables, salads, cream cheeses and white meats.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Green pears, grapefruit, jasmine and melon rind on the nose. Crunchy and fresh with a medium body and crisp, refreshing finish. Vegan.
Captivating and full of character, Verdejo grows with great success in Rueda, Spain and virtually nowhere else in Europe. It has become so trendy in Spain since the turn of the century that plantings have also increased tremendously. Somm Secret—Contrary to what some may think, it is actually not related to the Portugese variety with a very similar name, Verdelho. In fact, DNA profiling suggests it may be a sibling of Godello, another native of NW Spain.
Rueda is located along the banks of the Duero River in Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive north of Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back to the 12th century, it was in the 1980s that the region was granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 70 wineries call Rueda home. This national favorite is the top-selling white wine in Spain.
Notable facts Rueda’s main grape variety, Verdejo, gets it distinct complexity from stressful growing conditions and mineral-rich soil. Think of Verdejo as a fuller-bodied and more aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. A lush and smooth character with perfectly balanced acidity means Rueda wines pair well with seafood, fresh salads and spicy food, but are also great on their own.