Winemaker Notes
Bright yellow straw color with green hints, medium to high intensity aroma of tropical and citrus fruits, apple, and herbs (boxwood, fennel). It is dry with a balance of freshness and acidity, good structure, and a long finish with a slightly bitter palate. Recommended pairings include white fish, tuna, sushi, seafood, salads, pasta, chicken, and soft & blue cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2024 Verdejo Protos is intensely aromatic, showing green apple, wild herbs and a touch of lees. Creamy yet lifted by high acidity, it blends crispness and roundness. The finish offers white fruit and a subtle bitterness.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2024 Protos opens with fragrant notes of dried spices and subtle orchard fruit, then satisfies the palate with sustained tension, vibrancy, and a clean, refreshing drive. Its poised structure and energetic finish make it an ideal companion for Rueda-style Lubina a la Plancha—simply griddled sea bass finished with olive oil, lemon, and a touch of garlic and parsley, allowing the wine’s freshness and spice to shine. (Tasted: December 8, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
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Decanter
Expressive and intense, exuberant aromas of stone fruit, grapefruit and fennel. Appealing on the palate, with a pithy finish.
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James Suckling
The nose shows limes, freshly cut grass and a touch of pine needles. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with fresh, juicy fruit up front, medium acidity and a fresh finish.
The history of Protos dates back to 1927, when 11 viticulturists established the “Ribera del Duero” winery, with an avantgarde vision of preparing quality wines under one brand. Over ninety years later, this spirit still lives on and continues growing year upon year. At Protos, we take pride in our roots, using only our native varieties, Tempranillo and Verdejo, and in 1982, allowing our brand “Ribera del Duero” to be used for the recently established Ribera del Duero Denomination of Origin.
Genuine commitment to quality, controlled vineyards, limited yields, manual harvest, barrel aging and a rigorous control of the entire elaboration process, give our wines global prestige.
This commitment to quality is demonstrated through the brand’s ongoing reinvestment in research and betterment of their vineyards & wineries. This eagerness to keep evolving and adapting the wines with the outmost respect to the land, have ensured Protos as one of the most well-known and reliable brands by consumers the world over.
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.