Verdejo

One of the top white grapes of Spain, its home is the Rueda appellation of Castilla y Léon. Named after the green (verde) colour of its berries, it is believed to be the sibling of Godello grape in Galicia and is sometimes called Verdelho. It is low yielding with compact, small berries and is resistant to drought. The grape can be blended with Sauvignon Blanc in Rueda to add a lighter touch.  Planted also in La Mancha and Extremadura, it is rarely found outside of Spain.

Its characteristics are aromas of laurel, bitter almonds and orchard fruits with a touch of minerality. The wines often have quite high acidity and are full bodied. As they mature they become more nutty and rich and are often fermented and aged in barrel.