Verdicchio

Verdicchio is the leading white wine grape of Italy's Marche region on the central Adriatic coast, taking its name from verde — "green" — for the greenish-gold tint it lends the wine. It is the backbone of two historic appellations, the larger Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi near the sea and the smaller, higher inland Verdicchio di Matelica, and in good hands it makes a dry, crisp, full-textured white. The hallmark is bright acidity and citrus, green apple and white-flower aromas closing on a distinctive faintly bitter almond note on the finish. Long dismissed as a cheerful seafood quaffer sold in a fish-shaped amphora bottle, it is now recognised as one of Italy's most serious and age-worthy native whites. Naturally high in acid, it is bottled still, sparkling (spumante) and as a sweet passito.