Today is World Verdejo Day – a day to celebrate one of Spain's great white grape varieties. Discover Verdejo's versatility with top scoring styles from Rueda and beyond.
One of Spain’s most planted white grape varieties, Verdejo is indigenous to the Rueda DO in northern Spain, but is a unique variety grown across the nation.
Youthful Verdejo wines make for the perfect summer aperitif with herby citrus, stone fruit and tropical aromas balanced by mouth-watering acidity. Juicy and refreshing, this popular style of Verdejo is produced to be drunk young.
But the variety offers much more with oaked, oxidised, sweet and fortified styles showing versatility and potential, as evident from Decanter’s Spanish Verdejo panel tasting and recently announced results from the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards.
Scroll down to see award-winning Spanish Verdejo wines from DWWA 2023
Looking at Spanish Verdejo results from the 2023 competition, Rueda was awarded a majority of medals, but award-winning Verdejo wines can be found from Almansa, La Mancha, Cigales and Rioja to Castilla y Léon, Uclés and Valles de Benavente.
With 28 Silver medals awarded to Spanish Verdejo wines produced in a range of styles, below discover 15 top examples from Decanter World Wine Awards to celebrate World Verdejo Day with.
DWWA 2023: Award-winning Spanish Verdejo wines
Youthful & Fresh
Bodegas Iturria, Quiban, Toro 2021
Silver, 93 points
An original expression with orange zest, floral and pineapple aromas, fresh acidity and a long finish. Interesting wine with plenty of life left in it. Alc 13%
Bodega Cuatro Rayas, Pisuerga Verdejo, Castilla y Léon 2020
Silver, 92 points
A herbal and citrus style with notes of lemon peel, grass and white peach. Super easy to drink with a long and pleasant citrusy finish. Alc 13.7%
Bodegas Garciarevalo, Harenna Edición Limitada Verdejo, Rueda 2021
Silver, 91 points
Intense and very well-defined in ripe citrus fruit and tropical fruit. Nice intensity in the mouth, with refreshing acidity and a long finish. Lovely drinking. Alc 13%
Bodegas Yuntero, Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc, La Mancha 2022
Silver, 91 points
Very aromatic with rich, ripe pear, green apple and grassy undertones, zesty acidity and a long finish. Lovely drinking. Alc 12%
Bodegas Naia, K-Naia, Rueda 2022
Silver, 90 points
A riper style with apricot and yellow plum, fuller on the palate than many with refreshing acidity. Delicious right now. A really nice example. Alc 13%
Bodegas Pedro Escudero, The Maker Verdejo, Rueda 2021
Silver, 90 points
A good varietal expression with bergamot, fresh apricot, white peach and wet stone aromas. The palate is crisp and well-structured; long, refreshing finish. Alc 13.%
Oaked & Complex
Bodegas Pedro Escudero, Bestia Parda, Castilla y Léon 2018
Silver, 93 points
Honey, wax, dried apricot and toast aromas. Mineral and creamy in the mouth with lively acidity and a long, toasty, salty finish; complex and elegant. Alc 13%
Diez Siglos De Verdejo, Barrica, Rueda 2021
Silver, 92 points
Floral, spice, stone fruit, ginger and curry perfume. Very ethereal palate with noticeable oak spice-derived notes of vanilla and cinnamon and a rich vein of acidity. Alc 13%
Grupo Valdecuevas, Fermentado en Barrica Verdejo, Rueda 2021
Silver, 91 points
Waxy, white pepper, capsicum, ripe peach and nutty nose. Broad palate with a lovely texture; long, smoky finish. Delicious drinking. Alc 13.5%
Hijos De Alberto Gutiérrez, De Alberto Fermentado en Barrica, Rueda 2021
Silver, 90 points
Heady oak and tropical fruit aromas. The palate is creamy with an enticing texture and well-integrated oak. An altogether corpulent style with lots of butter and lemon curd. Alc 13.5%
Bodegas Copaboca, Juan Galindo Verdejo, Rueda 2021
Silver, 90 points
Tropical fruit and herbal scents. The palate is citrusy with a creamy texture from oak use; not overly complex but very fresh and appealing. Alc 13.5%
Fortified
Bodega Cuatro Rayas, 61 Dorado en Rama, Rueda NV
Silver, 94 points
Oxidative with notes of butterscotch, hazelnuts, bread dough and refreshing acidity. Layer after layer of complexity on the palate and fantastic, long finish. Very impressive. Alc 17.3%
Hijos De Alberto Gutiérrez, De Alberto Dorado Dulce, Rueda NV
Silver, 94 points
Oxidative nose with bread dough, toast, hazelnuts, and walnuts and a rich, honeyed palate. A delicious wine with refreshing acidity and a lingering finish. Alc 16.5%
Hijos De Alberto Gutiérrez, De Alberto Dorado, Rueda NV
Silver, 93 points
Oxidative with notes of toffee, caramel, crème brûlée, toast and a touch of umami. Persistent finish, delivering layer after layer. Fantastic! Alc 17.5%
Hijos De Alberto Gutiérrez, De Alberto Pálido, Rueda NV
Silver, 90 points
Wonderful voluminous nose of dried citrus peel, hazelnut, toast and nut skins. Great wine with a long finish. Alc 15%
