Verdelho
Classic aromas of Verdelho are: Grapefruit, Orange, Lime and Yellow Peach
Verdelho is believed to have been cultivated in Portugal since the early 17th century and was taken to the island of Madeira shortly after this.
It is one of the most important grapes in the making of the fortified wne of Maderia, made on the island of the same name, considered to be one of the four ‘noble varieties’. Before the phlloxerea louse wiped out all the vineuards on the island, in 1872, it made up over two thirds of the island’s plantings and it is now a mere 47ha in total.
After Madeira and mainland Portugal it is most important in Australia. It was taken to Australia in the 1820s and has since seen great praise both nationally and globally. Hunter Valley and Riverina regions of New South Wales are the most important regions for Verdelho were it makes full-bodied dry white wines. There is now a total of 1,761ha of the varietal planted across all of Australia.
Verdelho is known for its high natural sugar and acidity contents. The high natural sugars in the grapes allow for Verdelho to produce fuller-bodied dry white wines compared to many others. Classically it will have aromas of grapefruit and orange along with honeydew melon and lime skin. On the palate it will have a full body and fleshy stonefruit flavours.