HOT NEW SINGLE VARIETALS: VERDEJO — YOUR NEW BARGAIN BEACH WHITE
Love Sauvignon Blanc? Give Verdejo, a citrus-y, aromatic, white wine from Spain a try & save some of your hard-earned cash.
Verdejo is a fun and fruity varietal that tastes like a tropical vacation in a bottle. This inexpensive white grape typically grows in the DO of Rueda, Spain. Rueda is one of the lesser-known wine DOs in Spain, and few international tourists tend to spend their time there.
Rueda is a climate of extremes, ranging from blisteringly hot summers to very cold winters. Naturally, the Verdejo vines thrive in these extreme temperatures. The Rueda DO sits at the base of the Duero River basin, and the soil is typically clay mixed with sand, loam and silt.
How Soil Effects Verdejo
Verdejo is a bit of a chameleon, and like most grapes, the type of soil it grows in affects the texture and flavors of the resulting wine. Verdejo that grows in clay based soil tends to be a bit creamier and have a lot more body, whereas Verdejo that grows in sand is more mineral-driven and lighter.
Aging Verdejo - Just Do It
Unlike other white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo can age beautifully if stored correctly. All those lemony tannins mellow out with time and one can expect nutty flavors to unfold and a richer texture to develop. Most Verdejo is also way cheaper than a lot of Sauvignon Blancs out there - so it’s a great deal. Verdejo usually has a bit more of a zesty quality over Sauvignon Blanc, which is typically super smooth. If you like flavors of lime, white peaches, and a little bit of spicy green flavors like fennel, consider giving this white Spanish varietal a try.
Types of food to pair Verdejo with:
Think about those heavy lime qualities in a bottle of crisp, clean Verdejo. Anything that generally plays well with lime should play with Verdejo. I personally love pairing Verdejo with tacos, burritos, ceviche and pretty much any type of coastal Mexican cuisine.
Verdejo also goes great with Thai and Vietnamese food as well. If you’re enjoying a nice, soul-warming bowl of Pho or a Bahn Mi sandwich - definitely consider pairing it with Verdejo. The same goes for Pad Thai, or summer rolls. And now, let’s chat about our —
PICK OF THE WEEK: Bodegas Verdeal Rueda $18.00 @ K&L
Honestly? If I was a lager-drinker and I wanted to switch things up, I would definitely give this wine a go. The Bodegas Verdeal Verdejo is the quintessential Summer wine. Loaded with aromas of sea grass, lemon balm, and briny, ocean goodness, this wine is refreshing as all get out.
Just a little touch of honey and clover at the end round this beauty of a wine out in a beautiful way. #solocupfriendly, crisp and casual. Perfect for the blazing hot months ahead. Try pairing this with ceviche from your favorite ceviche truck for a match made in heaven!