Verdeca

Did You Know?

• Verdeca on its own can produce minerally wines with a flinty note.
• The grape ripens very late and tends to have fairly high acidity and green, vegetal notes.
• Verdeca has been known under many synonyms including Verdicchio bianco, Verdicchio femmina, and Verdicchio Peloso.

DOC wines

Verdeca appears as a minor blending component in several DOCs of central and southern Italy. In Gravina DOC, a white wine only DOC in Apulia around the town of Gravina, the wine is primarily a blend of Malvasia del Chianti (40-65%) with Greco di Tufo and/or Bianco d'Alessano. Verdeca, along with Bombino bianco and Trebbiano, can be used up to a maximum of 10%. Grapes for this DOC must be harvested at a yield no greater than 15 tonnes/hectare, with the finished wine attaining a minimum alcohol level of 11%. A sparkling Spumante style is also permitted under the same requirements.

Locorotondo DOC, a white only DOC covering 1650 ha around the town of Locorotondo, requires Verdeca to account for 50-65% of the blend, with Bianco d'Alessano usually filling the remaining 35-50%. Fiano, Bombino and Malvasia Toscana may be included up to 5% of the total. Grapes must be kept to a maximum yield of 13 tonnes/ha, with a minimum alcohol level of 11%. A sparkling Spumante style is also allowed.

Martina Franca DOC, a white only DOC around the town of Martina Franca in the Itria Valley, has identical blending requirements: Verdeca 50-65%, Bianco d'Alessano 35-50%, with Fiano, Bombino and Malvasia Toscana permitted up to 5%. Yield is limited to 13 tonnes/ha and minimum alcohol is 11%, with a Spumante option.

Ostuni DOC, based around three small mountains near Ostuni in the Murgia region, makes white wines primarily from Impigno (50-85%) and Francavilla (15-50%). Verdeca, along with Bianco d'Alessano, is allowed up to a maximum of 10%. Grapes must be kept to a maximum yield of 11 tonnes/ha, with a minimum alcohol level of 11%.