Verdejo is one of Spain’s most planted white grape varieties. It accounts for 8% of all white grapes planted in Spain and is grown all over the country from Rioja to La Mancha and Almansa, but its home is in Rueda in the Castilla y León region.
‘It is in the expansive region of Castilla y León where the Verdejo grape reigns,’ wrote Beth Willard in the introduction to Decanter’s 2022 Spanish Verdejo panel tasting. ‘High on the windy and sparsely populated plains of the Meseta Central, north of Madrid, the variety fully develops its showy lime and tropical aromas with racy acidity,’ she added.
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World Verdejo Day on Friday 14 June celebrates the grape variety in its myriad styles; as well as its classic unoaked incarnation which offers stone and tropical fruit and refreshing acidity, you can find oaked and even oxidised versions of this versatile grape.
Here’s a handful to enjoy on World Verdejo Day, or any day for that matter, including a 98-point scoring non-vintage wine, supermarket picks and one from Mendoza in Argentina.
World Verdejo Day: Top wines to try
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Bodegas de Alberto, Dorado Verdejo, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain
Since the 1940s, the Gutiérrez family, owner of Bodegas de Alberto, has been producing traditional-style Verdejo wines of Rueda, the fortified dorado being quite different...
Bodegas de AlbertoRueda
Ossian, Viñas Viejas de Segovia, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2020
An elegant and refined Verdejo from pre-phylloxera (very) old vines north of Segovia. This is a serious expression of the grape with some smoky oak...
2020
OssianVino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
Canned Wine Co, No. 2 Barrel Aged Verdejo, Rueda, Northern Spain, Spain, 2019
93
Intense stalky green apple is paired with a handful of cinnamon on the nose. Pronounced red apple and tangerine are joined by cloves and more cinnamon on the palate, where the vibrant acidity keeps the whole ensemble fresh and moreish.
2019
Canned Wine CoRueda
Saturnino Cantalapiedra, Verdejo, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2021
Attractive and distinctive with smoky, candied peel and ripe stone fruit. Vibrant lemon and green apple with a pithy bite and spice to keep the...
2021
Saturnino CantalapiedraRueda
Beronia, Verdejo, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2022
Perfumed apricot and nutmeg spice with zesty lemon and pink grapefruit. White peach fleshiness and ripe limey citrus tones. Fruit definition and a herbal tail...
2022
BeroniaRueda
Finca Montepedroso, Verdejo, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2022
This is a great example of why the Spanish love Verdejo. Intense lemon, lime and pineapple aromas and flavours with some herbal notes and fennel....
2022
Finca MontepedrosoRueda
Zuccardi, Polígonos Verdejo, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, 2021
Delicately perfumed including aromas of passion fruit and floral notes. Palate has texture, fresh and vibrant green fruit. Bright and enjoyable with nice purity.
2021
ZuccardiUco Valley
Belondrade y Lurton, Verdejo, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2019
Well-judged oak on the nose, vanilla, whisky and nutty aromas over citrus pith. Gentle on the palate.
2019
Belondrade y LurtonRueda
Garciarévalo, Finca Tresolmos Verdejo Lias, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2021
90
Lees ageing has leant great texture to this lovely little Verdejo. It's full of flavour, showing white peach, jasmine and pineapple with stony, mineral undertones. This is bright and fresh now, but will develop more complexity with bottle age. Member price: £11.99
2021
GarciarévaloRueda
Asda, Extra Special Palacio de Vivero, Rueda, Northern Spain, Spain, 2022
<p>What incredible value! Asda’s Extra Special Rueda Verdejo picked up a deserved Bronze medal in this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards. It’s a fresh, mineral,...
2022
AsdaRueda
Baron Amarillo, Verdejo, Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain, 2023
88
A textbook example of Rueda's Verdejo grape, exuding forward tropical fruit aromas then plump peach and zingy citrus tones coming through on the round palate. It's not the most complex wine, but it's easy to like and at this price it's a good fridge-door staple to enjoy with or without food.
2023
Baron AmarilloRueda