Verdejo
Verdejo is the white grape of Rueda, the Spanish region along the Duero River, and produces dry wine with citrus, green apple and fennel. The grapes are often picked at night, which preserves the freshness in the bottle.
Wine by type
Verdejo is not alone in the selection. Four pages closely related to it, from white wine in general to the other major name from Spain.
White wine
Where Verdejo fits in the selection: the whole story, from dry to dessert-sweet white wine.
About white wine →Sauvignon blanc
The grape Verdejo is most often compared with, with a tighter and sharper character.
About Sauvignon blanc →
Rioja
The other major Spanish name, known for red wine but with a white side of its own.
About Rioja →
Chardonnay
Oak-aged, full-bodied and buttery smooth, making it the counterpart to a young-bottled Verdejo.
About Chardonnay →The grapes go from the vine at night
The most distinctive thing about Verdejo happens in the dark: in Rueda, the grapes are often harvested at night. There is a practical reason for this. Warm summer days ensure ripe fruit, while the cool nights preserve the fresh acidity in the grapes, and picking during the coolest part of the day prevents the winemaker from allowing the juice to start fermenting prematurely through exposure to oxygen. This preserves the freshness and fruitiness all the way to the cellar. At Faustino, this tradition has even become the name of the bottle: Vendimia Nocturna means night harvest. Verdejo itself is a white grape grown almost exclusively in Rueda, the region along the Duero River that received D.O. status in 1980.
Rueda has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, and soil consisting of limestone, clay and sand; the vineyards themselves also contain many pebbles. Verdejo is its most iconic grape variety, producing dry, expressive wine with good acidity. Most bottles are bottled young and go straight to the table, but some Verdejos are aged in oak. These are fuller-bodied, with hints of honey and nuts; they become more complex and keep for longer. Unopened, a bottle is usually best consumed within two to four years of the harvest, depending on the style.
In brief
Six bottles, from vibrantly fresh to oak-aged
Four classic Ruedas, one oak-aged and one organic from another region. From top to bottom, the wine becomes fuller and the emphasis on pure freshness fades.
Cune Rueda Verdejo
Fruity, juicy and approachable, with tropical fruit, lemon, green herbs and fennel. One of the simplest ways to discover what this grape is known for.
Viña Salceda Rueda Verdejo
Here too, the grapes are harvested at night, resulting in vibrantly fresh white wine with mango, pineapple and papaya. There are also aromas of lemon and fennel.
Marqués de Riscal Rueda Verdejo
Packed with tropical fruit, from one of Spain's best-known producers. More exuberant than most of the bottles in this selection.
Faustino Vendimia Nocturna
Vendimia Nocturna means night harvest, and this bottle carries the story of the region on its label. Fresh aromas of tropical fruit and apricot with some spice, and a palate that is powerful yet fresh.
Marqués de Riscal Limousin Reserva
This verdejo is aged in oak barrels; the name Limousin refers to the French region where this oak grows. Complex and elegant, with yellow fruit, almonds and a touch of vanilla.
Plaza Mayor Verdejo Organic
An organic bottle that shows verdejo also grows outside Rueda. Straightforward and approachable, with spicy fruitiness and a characteristic mild almond-like bitterness.
If you are looking for the same freshness but tighter and sharper, sauvignon blanc is the answer.
Fresh and aromatic, and softer than you expect
Citrus & fennel
Fresh and aromatic, with lime, green apple and white peach, underpinned by fennel-like spice. In an oak-aged bottle, honey and nuts join the mix.
Dry and round
Dry, with good acidity yet a round texture; you taste citrus fruits, green melon and white peach. That combination of freshness and softness is why verdejo is so easy to drink.
Almond
The finish is lightly spicy and often has a mild almond note. In the organic bottle from Castilla La Mancha, that almond-like bitterness comes through most clearly.
Flavor profile of an average young bottled verdejo. An oak-aged bottle scores higher for body and considerably lower for freshness.
How to serve verdejo
Verdejo wants to go into the bowl cold and needs little else. The grape does the work; you take care of the temperature and the glass.
Chill to 8 to 10 degrees
At that temperature, verdejo is at its best: cold enough for fresh acidity, but not so cold that the aromas close up. About three hours in the refrigerator is enough. Aeration is unnecessary; only fuller-bodied or oak-aged bottles benefit from a few minutes of air.
To the glasses →In a standard white wine glass
An ordinary white wine glass is exactly right, because it brings out the fresh aromas and fruity scents best. The bowl holds and distributes the aroma, and holding the glass by the stem prevents your hand from warming the wine. Pour white wine just above the widest part of the bowl; as a rule of thumb, one bottle yields six glasses.
More about serving →With food
Goat cheese, white fish such as cod or sea bass, shellfish and salads with a fresh citrus dressing. From the region itself, grilled fish such as salmon or swordfish, paella, sashimi and fish croquettes also pair well. An oak-aged verdejo is better enjoyed with somewhat creamier dishes.
To the bottles →Cocktails with white wine
Verdejo is actually never used in a cocktail; you drink it chilled from the glass. These four come closest: two Spanish wine drinks and two spritzes made with sparkling wine.
Sangria
Wine with fruit, orange and ice, the best-known way to mix wine.
Tinto de Verano
Wine topped up with fizz and lemon, the summer glass of the Spanish terrace.
Hugo Spritz
Elderflower syrup, sparkling wine, sparkling water and mint over lots of ice.
Aperol Spritz
Aperol, sparkling wine and a splash of sparkling water, with an orange slice.The right glass for verdejo
A standard white wine glass brings the fresh aromas out best while keeping the wine cool. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about verdejo
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
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