Verdicchio
Pronunciation: Vayr DEE kee ohWhere it's Grown:The Eastern Italian region of Marches is the home of Verdicchio even though it is grown a few other places. There are two important appellations for the grape which are named by the grape and the city. The most well known is Verdicchio dei Castello di Jesi and the second is Vedicchio di Matelica. It has been grown here for certain from the 14th century. According to the website Italianmade.com, Verdicchio may have been a respected wine even earlier than 410 when wine from this region was taken by Alaric King of the Visigoths on his way to lay seige to Rome! Wine and history, always tangled together.
The region is warm and sunny with just enough rainfall for viticulture. Vineyards cover the hillsides of this region which has been a source of tankers of inexpensive white and red wines for the majority of the last 200 years. Of late, the intent on high quality has influenced the production of all wines but Verdicchio in particular has blossomed. The modern wines are not just crisp and refreshing but offer a depth of flavor as well.
What to expect: Traditional dry styles of Verdicchio are lemon accented wines having a very refreshing nature but not much complexity. The modern era has brought a new intent on building complexity in the wines. Now in addition to the lemon you will find stone fruit, like moderately ripe peach, green apple and a very interesting note of fresh almond.
You will also find this wine in raisinated grape (passito) wines of intense sweetness and a dry, fully sparkling version.
