Verdeca is a minor blending component in several DOCs central and southern Italy but some of the more notable DOCs the grape can be found in include:[3]
Gravina DOC - A white wine only DOC in the Apulia region based 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 making up the remaining percentages of the blend. Verdeca, along with
Bombino bianco and
Trebbiano can be used up to a maximum of 10%. Grapes destined for this DOC must be
harvested to a
yield no greater than 15
tonnes/
hectare with the finished wine attaining a minimum
alcohol level of 11%. A
sparklingSpumante style wine can also be produced under the same DOC requirements as the white wine.
Locorotondo DOC - A white only DOC in Apulia that covers 1650 ha (4000 acres) around the town of
Locorotondo. Verdeca must account for 50-65% of the blend with Bianco d'Alessano usually filling in the remaining 35-50%.
Fiano, Bombino and Malvasia Toscana are permitted to be included up to the 5% of the total blend. Grapes destined for DOC wines must be kept to a maximum yield of 13 tonnes/ha with the finished product attaining a minimum alcohol level of 11%. A sparkling Spumante style wine can also be produced under the same DOC requirements as the white wines.
Martina Franca DOC - A white only DOC in Apulia around the town of
Martina Franca in the
Itria Valley in Apulia. Verdeca must account for 50-65% of the blend with Bianco d'Alessano usually filling in the remaining 35-50%. Fiano, Bombino and Malvasia Toscana are permitted to be included up to the 5% of the total blend. Grapes destined for DOC wines must be kept to a maximum yield of 13 tonnes/ha with the finished wine attaining a minimum alcohol level of 11%. A sparkling Spumante style wine can also be produced under the same DOC requirements as the white wines.
Ostuni DOC - Based around three small mountains surrounding the town of
Ostuni in the
Murgia region near the
Adriatic sea. The white wines are primarily made from the local grapes
Impigno (50-85%) and
Francavilla (15-50%) with Verdeca allowed in the blend, along with Bianco d'Alessano, up to a maximum of 10%. Grapes destined for DOC wines must be kept to a maximum yield of 11 tonnes/ha with the finished product attaining a minimum alcohol level of 11%.
San Severo DOC - A DOC containing around 2,000 ha (5,000 acres) situated around the town of
San Severo, north of
Foggia in the
Capitanata di Puglia region. The white wines of the DOC are primarily Bombino Bianco (40-60%) and Trebbiano Toscano (40-60%) with Verdeca, along with Malvasia del Chianti, permitted up to a maximum of 20%. Grapes destined for DOC wines must be kept to a maximum yield of 14 tonnes/ha with the finished attaining a minimum alcohol level of 11%.
Velletri DOC - Based around the town of
Velletri in the
Lazio region. The white are primarily composed of Malvasia Bianca di Candida (up to 70%) with Verdeca, Trebbiano and
Giallo permitted up to 30% total and
Bellone and Bombino bianco permitted up to 10%. Grapes destined for DOC wines must be kept to a maximum yield of 16 tonnes/ha with the finished wine attaining a minimum alcohol level of 11%.
Vesuvio DOC - Large DOC based in the
volcanic soils around Mt. Vesuvius. The white wines are composed primarily of Coda di Volpe (35-80%) with Verdeca permitted up to 45% and Falanghina and Greco up to 20%. Grapes destined for DOC wines must be kept to a maximum yield of 10 tonnes/ha with the finished product attaining a minimum alcohol level of 11%. The sweet dessert wine Lacryma Christi can also be produced under the same DOC blend/requirements of the white wine with the finished wine needing to reach a minimum alcohol level of 12%.
Wine styles
While used mostly as blending variety, Verdeca on its own can produce
minerally wines that tend to have a "
flinty" note. The grape ripens very late and even in the very warm regions of southern Italy tends to have fairly high
acidity and green, vegetal notes.[1]
Synonyms
Over the years Verdeca has been known under a variety of synonyms including: Albese bianco, Albina verde, Alvino verde, Biancolina, Carosella, Primarulo, San Gennaro, Tivolese, Uva marana, Verdacchio, Verde, Verdea, Verdera, Verdesca, Verdicchio bianco, Verdicchio femmina, Verdicchio Verde, Verdicchio Peloso, Verdichio Tirolese, Verdichio Tivolese, Verdicella, Verdigno, Verdisco, Verdisco bianco, Verdisio bianco, Verdolino, Verdone and Vino verde.[4]
References
^
abJ. Bastianich & D. Lynch Vino Italiano pg 297, 312-316, 401 Crown Publishing 2005
ISBN1-4000-9774-6
^J. Robinson Jancis Robinson's Guide to Wine Grapes pg 194 Oxford University Press 1996
ISBN0198600984
^P. Saunders Wine Label Language pp. 168-216 Firefly Books 2004
ISBN1-55297-720-X