Verdejo Wine: 10 Best Bottles To Buy (2024), How & Where It Is Made

The Verdejo grape, a hidden gem of the wine world, has brought Spain's Rueda wine region into the spotlight. 

This versatile Spanish grape produces a range of light-bodied whites - from refreshing young wines boasting lemon, citrus, and grapefruit notes to creamy, aged wines flaunting nutty flavors.

Let's uncover Verdejo's unique wine styles and 10 best bottles to buy. We'll then look at delicious foods to go with this wine, take a tour of the Rueda wine region, and explore a bit of its history.

Verdejo Wine Styles

There are mainly two unique styles of Verdejo:

• Young Unoaked Verdejo: A fantastic alternative to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, young Verdejo wines are lean, crisp, and minerally, with notes of grapefruit and lime. These wines are usually sold in high-shoulder Bordeaux bottles.
• Aged Verdejo: Fermented in oak barrels, aged Verdejo wines are creamy on the palate, with subtle hints of lemon curd and toasted almonds. These wines are sold in low-shoulder bottles.

Choose unoaked Verdejo wines for a lean and crisp option. However, if you prefer more structure and nutty flavors, an aged Verdejo would be more to your liking.

Note: Verdejo is different from Verdelho - a white grape variety common in Portugal.

10 Best Verdejo Wines To Buy In 2024 (Including Tasting Notes)

Here are 10 extraordinary Verdejo wines worthy of your attention:

• 2007 Bodega Belondrade y Lurton Verdejo
• 2018 Ossian 'Capitel' Blanco Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Leon
• 2015 Menade 'Sobrenatural'
• 2018 Bodegas Jose Pariente Finca 'Las Comas' Verdejo
• 2014 Campo Eliseo Blanco
• 2017 Bodegas Jose Pariente Cuvee Especial Verdejo
• 2020 Microbio Wines 'Nieva York' Pet'Nat' Blanco
• 2017 Rodriguez Sanzo 'Vina Sanzo' Verdejo
• 2014 Rolland & Galarreta Verdejo
• 2019 Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez El Transistor

We'll tell you their prices and tasting notes as well - to help you pick the right one for your taste.

1. 2007 Bodega Belondrade y Lurton Verdejo ($65)

This wine from the famed Belondrade vineyard flaunts ripe mango and preserved citrus aromas. Its oily palate exhibits excellent acidity.

2. 2018 Ossian 'Capitel' Blanco Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Leon ($61)

This Verdejo wine has a smooth palate boasting melon, apple, and vanilla flavors. It greets the nose with white fruit and wood grain aromas.

3. 2015 Menade 'Sobrenatural' ($43)

On the nose, this white wine offers pastry cream and roasted apple aromas. The palate is creamy yet delicate, with perfectly balancing salinity, acidity, and sweetness.

4. 2018 Bodegas Jose Pariente Finca 'Las Comas' Verdejo ($39)

Its unctuous palate reveals hints of aniseed and ends with a salty finish. This D.O. Rueda wine opens with fennel and floral notes.

5. 2014 Campo Eliseo Blanco ($36)

This wine's nose is dominated by notes of fresh herb, berry, and chocolate. It has a full-bodied and layered palate presenting intense tannins.

6. 2017 Bodegas Jose Pariente Cuvee Especial Verdejo ($34)

On the palate, this Rueda wine unveils a silky texture and fresh flavors complemented by roasted almond notes. Its nose reveals a white fruit aroma with a touch of minerality.

7. 2020 Microbio Wines 'Nieva York' Pet'Nat' Blanco ($35)

Aromas of stone fruit and white peach dominate the nose of this sparkling wine, and the refreshing and light palate displays very fine bubbles.

8. 2017 Rodriguez Sanzo 'Vina Sanzo' Verdejo ($27)

Packing exotic fruit flavors, this wine displays a well-balanced and full-bodied palate. When opened, this Rueda Verdejo wine unravels tropical fruit notes with a touch of balsamic.

9. 2014 Rolland & Galarreta Verdejo ($28)

This vintage charms the nose with tropical fruit and melon aromas. Its expressive palate bursts with fruit and orange peel notes before culminating in a long, fresh finish.

10. 2019 Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez El Transistor ($22)

The palate expresses fresh fruit flavors with good acidity and a persistent finish. This Verdejo is a great wine with a complex nose showcasing pear, green apple, and citrus aromas.

Best Food Pairings With Verdejo Wines

While Verdejo wines go best with bitter foods, you can pair these wines with an array of dishes.

Fish tacos, chicken enchiladas, pork loin, and other meat dishes pair exceptionally well with Verdejo wines. You can also enjoy the wine with vegetarian dishes featuring potato, green onion, bell pepper, leek, and shallot.

Cheese lovers can pair their Verdejo with Manchebo, Feta, Ricotta, or Pecorino.

Want to discover how Verdejo wines are made and what makes them exquisite?

Verdejo Wine Region: Terroir And Winemaking

Verdejo is predominantly grown in Rueda, a village in Castilla y León, Spain. However, small quantities of the grape variety are also found in other parts of the country, including Rioja.

The limestone-rich, sandy soil of Rueda combined with optimal sunshine and dry climate provides the perfect growing conditions for highly aromatic Verdejo grapes. 

Besides, old vines in the region are resistant to phylloxera — a natural insurance for the region's vine plantings.

Verdejo grapes are usually harvested at night to retain the grape’s freshness and acidity while staving off oxidation. 

In the winery, the harvested grapes are pressed, and the juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks to bring out the fruit-forward characteristics of the white wine.

Some wines are fermented and aged in oak to achieve a creamier texture and smoky nuances.

But how did Verdejo become the star of Rueda?

A Brief History Of Verdejo Wine

Verdejo debuted in Spain in the 11th century, arriving from North Africa.

For centuries, this grape variety was used to produce fortified wines. But in the 20th century, the winemaker Marqués de Riscal and French oenologist Emile Peynaud pioneered a fresher white wine style based on the Verdejo grape variety.

The crisp Rueda Verdejo wines produced were so impressive that the Rueda region was granted the Denominacion de Origen (DO) status in the 1980s.

Indulge In A Bottle Of Verdejo Wine Now!

A bottle of Verdejo will be a refreshing addition to your wine collection. Its fruity and fresh flavor profile makes it perfect for everyday consumption. 

While you can enjoy Verdejo without food, pair the wine with cheese and various salads for an unforgettable experience.

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