Verdeca

For another Italian wine grape that is also known as Verdeca, see Verdicchio.

Verdeca is a white Italian wine grape variety that is primarily grown in the Colli Piacentini region of Emilia-Romagna in central Italy and Apulia in southern Italy where ampelographers believe that the grape may have originated. In Apulia, it is one of the main grapes in the Denominazione di origine controllata wines of Locorotondo DOC and Martina Franca DOC along with Bianco d'Alessano. In Campania, it is grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius where it used as a blending variety with Falanghina, Coda di volpe and Greco in both the white wines and the sweet dessert wine of the region, Lacryma Christi. It is also a minor component used in the some vermouth production.[1][2]

DOC wines

Verdeca is widely grown throughout the Puglia region.

Verdeca is a minor blending component in several DOCs central and southern Italy but some of the more notable DOCs the grape can be found in include:[3]

Wine styles

Some Verdeca is grown on the volcanic slopes of Mount Vesuvius (pictured) where it is blended with the local white wine and in the dessert wine Lacryma Christi.

While used mostly as blending variety, Verdeca on its own can produce minerally wines that tend to have a "flinty" note. The grape ripens very late and even in the very warm regions of southern Italy tend to have fairly high acidity and green, vegetal notes.[1]

Synonyms

Over the years Verdeca has been known under a variety of synonyms including: Albese bianco, Albina verde, Alvino verde, Biancolina, Carosella, Primarulo, San Gennaro, Tivolese, Uva marana, Verdacchio, Verde, Verdea, Verdera, Verdesca, Verdicchio bianco, Verdicchio femmina, Verdicchio Verde, Verdicchio Peloso, Verdichio Tirolese, Verdichio Tivolese, Verdicella, Verdigno, Verdisco, Verdisco bianco, Verdisio bianco, Verdolino, Verdone and Vino verde.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 J. Bastianich & D. Lynch Vino Italiano pg 297, 312-316, 401 Crown Publishing 2005 ISBN 1-4000-9774-6
  2. J. Robinson Jancis Robinson's Guide to Wine Grapes pg 194 Oxford University Press 1996 ISBN 0198600984
  3. P. Saunders Wine Label Language pp. 168-216 Firefly Books 2004 ISBN 1-55297-720-X
  4. Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) Verdeca Accessed: July 7th, 2012
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