What is Verdejo wine? Verdejo is a white grape from Castilla y León in northern Spain. The best-known region is Rueda, a DO (Denominación de Origen) since 1980. About 90% of the vineyards in Rueda are planted with Verdejo, and Rueda Verdejo is considered one of Spain’s most popular white wines.
Where does Verdejo come from? Verdejo has grown in Rueda for more than a thousand years. Where the grape originally comes from is uncertain: according to many historians it came to Spain via North Africa and moved north in the 11th century. After phylloxera at the end of the 19th century, Verdejo was largely replaced by Palomino Fino. In 1972 Marqués de Riscal invested in Rueda. This brought a fresh, unoaked style that put the grape back on the map. Verdejo also grows outside Rueda, elsewhere in Castilla y León and to a limited extent in Castilla-La Mancha .
The rules of the DO are clear. A Rueda Verdejo must contain at least 85% Verdejo, and most bottles are made entirely from Verdejo. A wine labelled only Rueda must contain at least 50% Verdejo. So Rueda is the region, and Verdejo is the grape.
What makes Verdejo wine special? Rueda lies on a high plateau at around 700 to 800 metres. The winters are cold, the summers hot and dry, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. The cool nights help the grapes keep their freshness and acidity. The soil is sandy and stony, with plenty of limestone and iron. Because little rain falls, vine diseases are rare.
Many winemakers harvest Verdejo at night. The grapes stay cool, so the juice does not oxidise before it is pressed.
What does Verdejo taste like? The aroma of Verdejo is intense, with lime, grapefruit, white peach and white flowers, often with fennel or fresh herbs. On the palate the wine is dry, with lively acidity and a clean, mineral feel. The finish often has a slightly bitter almond note, a hallmark of the grape. When Verdejo has been aged in oak, it is creamier, with toasted bread and stone fruit.
What styles of Verdejo are there? Most Verdejo is a fresh, dry white wine that is drunk young. Still, winemakers in Rueda also make richer and more special styles, from creamy and aged to sparkling. What you taste depends on the vineyard and how the wine is aged: in stainless steel, on the lees or in oak.
Verdejo in stainless steel or concrete: fresh and fruity This is the modern classic. The wine is fermented cool in stainless steel or concrete and bottled young, so the aromas are preserved. You taste lime, grapefruit, green apple and herbs, with lively acidity. You drink this Verdejo young, usually within one to three years of the harvest.
Verdejo on the lees: creamier and fuller With lees ageing, the wine stays in contact with the dead yeast cells for several months after fermentation. This gives a rounder, creamier mouthfeel and notes of brioche and toasted almond, while the acidity stays fresh. You can taste a similar style in the 8 Vírgenes Blanco , below.
Verdejo in oak: rich and complex Some winemakers ferment Verdejo with native yeasts in French oak barrels and let the wine age for nine to twelve months on the lees. This gives a full, creamy wine with toasted bread and stone fruit.
Old vines and Gran Vino de Rueda Rueda has had a premium category for some years now: Gran Vino de Rueda. The wine comes from vines at least 30 years old, and the yield stays below 6,500 kilos per hectare. A well-known area for old vines is Nieva, in the province of Segovia. On the sandy soil there you find pre-phylloxera vines up to 200 years old. These wines are more mineral and more structured than the young style.
Sparkling Verdejo: Rueda Espumoso Rueda also has a sparkling style, Rueda Espumoso. It is made by the traditional method, with a second fermentation in the bottle, and ages at least nine months on the lees. Brut and brut nature require at least 85% Verdejo. Want to try Spanish bubbles now? Take a look at our Spanish sparkling wine .
Which Verdejo should you choose? Find the style that suits you Not every Verdejo tastes the same. Which one you choose depends on what you like and when you drink it. This guide helps you find the right style quickly.
You like a fresh, dry white wine. Choose Verdejo in stainless steel or concrete. This is the classic, young style with lime, grapefruit, herbs and lively acidity.
You want a rounder, creamier white wine. Choose Verdejo on the lees. The acidity stays fresh, but the wine has more volume and a hint of brioche or toasted almond.
You are looking for a rich wine with oak ageing. Choose Verdejo in oak. It is fuller and more complex, with toasted bread and stone fruit. It has more structure than the young style.
You want something special or a glass of bubbles. Choose Rueda Espumoso for sparkling Verdejo, or a Gran Vino de Rueda from old vines for a wine with more structure.
Looking for a white wine in the same direction right now? Below you will find two white wines you can order now.
Directly from the winemaker
Try fresh white wine now
A fruity Macabeo from 850 metres altitude and a white blend from Castilla y León, available to order now.
The 8 Vírgenes Blanco comes from Bodega La Zorra in the Sierra de Salamanca , in the same region as Rueda. Want to try more from this winemaker? Take a look at the tasting package .
What food goes with Verdejo? Verdejo is fresh and herbal and goes well with shellfish and white fish, such as gambas al ajillo or sea bass with lemon and olive oil. The wine also works well with vegetables, such as grilled asparagus and artichokes, and with fresh goat’s cheese or Manchego. Jamón ibérico and salads with a vinaigrette also go well. Richer, oak-aged Verdejo goes with roast chicken or pasta with a creamy sauce.
Serve young Verdejo well chilled, at 7 to 13 degrees. Want something to try now? Our Spanish white wine goes with the same dishes.
Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio? If you are looking for Verdejo, you often think of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio too. All three are fresh, usually dry white wines, but they taste different.
Sauvignon Blanc is closest to Verdejo: also fresh and herbal, but often sharper and greener, with gooseberry and freshly cut grass. Verdejo is usually a little rounder and has the slightly bitter almond finish. Pinot Grigio is lighter and more neutral, with apple and pear and a soft, smooth style. Verdejo has more aroma and herbs.
A Spanish alternative from our range is Macabeo , also called Viura: light and easy to drink, with apple and citrus. An example is the Requiebro Macabeo from Bodega Amadís de Gaula . The same winemaker also makes a Spanish Sauvignon Blanc , aged on the lees and therefore creamier.
Buy Verdejo at ONWINE At ONWINE you buy wine directly from the winemaker, and on our winemakers page you can read who is behind the wine. Verdejo is not in our range yet, but will be available soon. Until then you can try our other Spanish white wines.
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Frequently asked questions about Verdejo What is the difference between Rueda and Verdejo? Rueda is the wine region (DO), Verdejo is the grape. A Rueda Verdejo must contain at least 85% Verdejo.
How do you pronounce Verdejo? Roughly “ber-DAY-hoh”. The stress is on the second syllable, and the j is a soft, breathy h.
Is Verdejo sweet? No, most Verdejo is dry. The aroma of peach and white flowers can seem sweet, but in the mouth the wine is dry and fresh.
How long can you keep Verdejo? Young Verdejo is usually drunk within one to three years of the harvest. Wines aged on the lees or in oak can keep developing nicely for several more years.
Can I already buy Verdejo at ONWINE? Not yet. Verdejo will be available soon. In the meantime, take a look at our Spanish white wine , straight from the winemaker.
