Verdeca I.G.P. 75cl (2020) LE VIGNE DI SAMMARCO

Verdeca is a relatively rare white wine grape variety from southern Italy, now found almost exclusively in the Taranto and Bari provinces of central Puglia (it is easily confused with the similarly named Verdea, an equally rare variety from Tuscany). While it is typically used as a blending grape there are a handful of modern producers who are experimenting with varietal Verdeca wines in order to raise its profile – generally speaking, it is difficult to make a great wine from 100% Verdeca. This example by Le Vigne Di Sammarco has a straw-yellow colour with golden-green shades. Its bouquet is surprisingly intense and fine with a scent of apricot, flowers and rosemary while in the mouth its balance between freshness, sapidity and alcoholic tenor is perfect. Lovely and persistent, the citrusy and lightly balsamic final creates harmony to the taste. It pairs best with light risotto, buffalo mozzarella cheese, or more traditionally “pancotto” with vegetables, orecchiette with turnip greens, puccia with onions and even olives.