Grape Variety: Verdejo

Colour: White

Verdejo is a variety of wine grape that has long been grown in the Rueda winegrowing region of Spain. The grape apparently originated in North Africa, and was spread to Rueda in about the 11th Century, possibly by Mozarabs. For most of this time Verdejo was generally used to make a strongly oxidized, sherry-like wine. In the 1970s the winemaking company Marqués de Riscal began to develop a fresher style of white wine based on Verdejo with the help of French oenologist Émile Peynaud. As a consequence, in 1980 white wines from the Rueda region were recognized by a Denominación de Origen (DO). Wines labelled “Rueda” must contain 50% Verdejo; the remainder is typically Sauvignon blanc or Viura. Wines designated “Rueda Verdejo” must contain 85% Verdejo, and are often 100% Verdejo.[

The Verdejo grapes are generally harvested at night. This is for two reasons. Firstly, it means that the grapes enter the cellar at the lower night-time temperature of between 10-15 C instead of the daytime temperature which in September can reach as high as 28 or 30 C. This then flows into the second reason which is lower temperatures means less oxidation, or browning of the juice. [

Verdejo wines are aromatic, often soft and full-bodied. When blended with Sauvignon they have a pleasant nose of elderberry and currant fruit.