Verdelho

While a significant grape in Madeira, Verdelho is capable of making a delightful Portugeuse dry white that is great as an aperitif or as a pairing with raw fish and oysters. While many less expensive Madeira wines can be blends of different years or grapes, including Verdelho, single-varietal Madeira represent the highest quality versions that also have long aging capacities. Sercial, Boal, Malmsey and Verdelho are the best Madeira grapes. Of the four, Verdelho is the most concentrated and smoky. It is dry, intense, spicy and is flexible in food pairings.

Tasting Notes for Verdelho

Verdelho is a dry white wine with bright acidity, saline minerality and fresh notes of citrus, pineapple and passionfruit.

Perfect Food Pairings for Verdelho

Seafood is an essential pairing for Verdelho: oysters, tiger prawns in a chile sauce, crab curry and fried fish tacos. Manchego and spicy tomato-based sauces play nicely as well.

Sommelier Secrets for Verdelho

Like many other fortified wines, Madeira made of Verdelho can tolerate extreme aging and some rare bottles can still be found from the late 19th/early 20th century.