Whites: Verdicchio di Matelica

Ah, Le Marche, my home away from home! It is not only beautiful because of its landscapes, the warmth of its people and its delicious food, as you may have read in my post about Rosso Conero, it produces also great wines. Like the Verdicchio di Matelica.
It is a white wine produced with Verdicchio grapes. Its name was first used by a notary in 1579 but it became a DOC wine in 1967.
It is produced in the area surrounding the town of Matelica (Camerino, Castelraimondo, Cerreto, Esanatoglia, Fabriano and Gagliole). The effects of the weather in this valley (high variations of temperature from day to night and from summer to winter) give the grapes its unique aromas, extracts and polyphenols, therefore the wine has a great attitude to aging and a strong body.
 The Consortium for the Protection of the Verdicchio di Matelica is the association that regulates its production and it has only nearly a dozen wineries that can produce this wine.

Grape(s): Verdicchio 100% (another white grape might be added max. 15%)
Production area: near the Apennines, valley surrounding the town of Matelica.
Terroir: clay soils.
Features: strong-bodied, staw yellow color with greenish reflections, fresh, fruity aroma.
Food pairing: Seafood, starters, pasta, lasagne, ciauscolo (typical cold cut from the area), semi-aged cheeses.
When to drink it: Normally young, but if it's a good production it can age without losing its freshness and fragrance

My top 2:


- Verdicchio di Matelica Collestefano (Collestefano)
- Cambrugiano Verdicchio di Matelica DOC Riserva (Belisario)

cover image of Collestefano's website