30 Jan Oh Hello, Verdelho! | Cellar Session #2
With thousands of grape varieties out there, about 1,300 of which are used to make wine commercially, we don’t blame you if you find it tricky to identify your Pinot Noir’s from your Pinotage’s. That’s why we’re introducing a new monthly blog, Cellar Sessions, that will focus on the diverse range of wine varieties we grow for Fairview wines, so you can actually find these varieties easily wherever you are in the world, and get to know your grape a little bit better. Just remember that we are speaking in relatively general terms, and there is always room for discrepancies!
This week we’re calling all Sauvingon Blanc lovers – time to say hello to Verdelho, a fresh and crisp white wine that should be on your wine bucket list!
The Basics:
Grape Variety: Verdelho
Origin: Portugal and the Portuguese archipelago Madeira
Style: Dry white wine
Colour Profile: Bright light lime colour
Aroma & Flavour Profile: Our Verdelho has aromas of pear drop, papaya, mango and white blossoms. The palate is light to medium bodied with lingering citrus and fruit flavours.
Key Regions Planted: Madeira, Portugal, Spain, Australia, South Africa
Food pairing: Quite drinkable without food, or delightful with tapas or appetisers. The tropical fruitiness of Verdelho can also be matched with the spiciness of Asian cuisine, especially Vietnamese food. Beautiful with our Fairview Feta with Dried Olives.
Our Story:
Straight-forward and easy-drinking, we love Verdelho at Fairview, and are one of the few wine farms in the country that grow this unusual variety. A well-made Verdelho will be fresh, soft, and quite fruity when young, and it can be a great bargain. At this point, our winemakers believe that Verdelho is a perfect alternative to Sauvignon Blanc and even an unwooded Chardonnay. Verdelho is just the ticket for informal lunches, late summer afternoons or just to share with casual visitors.
Our Fairview Verdelho is available on our online shop for R70. Click here.