Discover everything you need to know about the Spanish Verdejo grape variety and how to pair it with the perfect summer meal. Read up on our expert tasting notes and explore our recipe collections to find the perfect dish to pair with your brand-new bottle.

Advertisement

Then, check out our BBC Good Food Wine Club. In partnership with Laithwaite’s, we’re offering discounts on exclusively curated cases of wine, chosen by wine experts and the BBC Good Food team, for you to subscribe to or buy as a gift. These curated cases come with pairing notes, the stories behind each bottle and serving suggestions. Your plan is customisable, plus Laithwaite’s will regularly send you exclusive offers on BBC Good Food collaboration cases.

Order now

What is Verdejo wine?

Verdejo in glass

Verdejo, not to be confused with verdelho, is a grape from northern Spain historically used to make fortified wines. But in the 1970s, one producer made a crisp modern dry white from it – a sort of Spanish Sancerre. It was a revelation, delivering an explosion of aromatic, floral, fruity and nutty flavours, and is now considered one of Spain’s best whites.

Verdejo is thought to have come from North Africa, brought over by Moorish conquerors in the 11th century. It’s grown all over Castile-Leon in central Spain, but it’s particularly well-known for the wines it produces in Rueda. Originally, the grape was used to make a sherry-esque wine, but the Rioja producer Marqués de Riscal pioneered the modern style in the 1970s. To unleash those big aromatic flavours, the grapes are harvested at night to maintain freshness, protected from oxygen contact, then fermented at a low temperature. A wine labelled Rueda Verdejo must be a least 85% Verdejo. It’s often blended with Sauvignon Blanc – in fact, the flavour of the grape is like a more exotic Sauvignon Blanc – and sometimes with Macabeo (also known as Viura), a fairly neutral Spanish grape.

What does Verdejo wine taste like?

Verdejo has a grassy herbal flavour not unlike Sauvignon Blanc, but often with notes of satsuma, lemon, fennel and almonds, and often, a pronounced acidity. The old-school fortified style is a bit like sherry, but some producers are now ageing it in oak barrels and stirring lees (the dead yeast cells), which builds texture and develops flavours of nuts and sometimes honeysuckle. Young, crisp Verdejo tastes best cold, whereas richer examples should be served a little warmer.

What dishes go well with Verdejo wine?

Goat's cheese ratatouille in dish

Verdejo pairs well with goat’s cheese, tomato and shellfish, and those big aromatic types are a great partner for Vietnamese and Thai food. The high acidity matches well with battered fish, as it cuts through the fat. Richer examples are a great substitute for white Burgundy, and go well with buttery dishes and poultry.

Sign up to the BBC Good Food Wine Club

For more expertly selected bottles, become a member of the BBC Good Food Wine Club. It's simple really – wines from quality-focused, family-run wineries around the world. They've been hand-selected by our dedicated team of experts, so you can be sure that what you're getting will be unique, interesting and – above all – delicious.

Order now

Advertisement

Enjoyed learning more about wine? Check out even more pairing guides...

Match white wine with food
The best wines to drink with pork
Pairing wine with food: a simple guide
Why you should be drinking verdejo this summer
How to choose wine

Comments, questions and tips

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

Choose the type of message you'd like to post
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement