Verdejo – the Green Jewel from Rueda DO

Verdejo – or Verdejo Blanco as its real name is – is a grape variety that is well-known and appreciated in Spain, particularly in the northern parts of the country. It is however less known outside its home-country, which is a pity as it produces some really nice wines. It is particularly well suited for food pairing.

Why “Green Jewel”? The name Verdejo is derived from the Spanish Verde, e.g. Green. It most likely refers to the colour of the grapes, stated to be of a slightly more dull green nuance than many other green grape varieties.

Its heartland is the Rueda DO in central north-western Spain. Rueda is situated north-west of Madrid and south of Galicia, and its land is part of three provinces; Valladolid, Ávila, and Segovia. Valladolid reports the largest plantings, but quality wise, Ávila, and Segovia definitely stand their ground. You will find Verdejo Blanco also in other parts of Spain, but its best expressions are recognized to come from the Rueda DO.

Vineyard in Villabeñez, Valladolid, Rueda DO

Foodpairing – Verdejo is nice as it is, on its own, served at 8-10°C/46-50°F on your veranda on a warm Summers day. It is even nicer when served with food. Its high acidity makes it a perfect match for dishes involving Goat cheese. It is also an excellent paring for Fish and Shellfish based dishes.

Mixed seafood is an excellent pairing with a dry Verdejo wine

Wine types – Verdejo is produced as dry white wine, both as varietal and blended. Blending is commonly done with Viura or Sauvignon Blanc. You can also look for the sparkling Rueda Espomoso, produced with the traditional method. If you’re lucky, you might also find examples of fortified wines made from Verdejo; Pálido (“Pale”), and Dorado (“Golden”).

Are you interested in learning more about Verdejo and more than two-hundred other wine grape varieties? You can learn about their

  • Characteristics
  • Typical wines they produce
  • Food-pairing suggestions
  • In which countries and regions they are grown
  • Their history
  • What is a grape called in another country? Search among 8500 Synonyms to find out!

Then the 200+ Wine Grapes app (available for iPhone and Android) is the app you should take a look at.

The app also includes a Wine Vocabulary, helping you in understanding some of the jargon in the world of wines.

You can read more about the app here, on our Website, on AppStore or on GooglePlay.

Welcome to explore the wonderful world of Wine grapes and Wines with us!

Enjoy!