From Santa Barbara, a winery in the Marche on Italy's Adriatic side, this is Verdicchio in its most serious form. The 2023 vintage comes from the Castelli di Jesi zone, the historic heartland of the grape, where the hills run from the Apennines down toward the sea.
- Verdicchio, the grape of the Marche.
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, a DOC of the Castelli di Jesi hills.
- 2023, a warm vintage across central Italy.
- Dry, medium-bodied, high in acidity.
- 13% alcohol, 750ml.
How it is made
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is a white wine appellation in the hills of the Marche, and the rules are strict about what goes in the bottle: Verdicchio and nothing else. The grape is grown on the rolling hills between the Apennines and the Adriatic, and the wines are made dry and still, though the region is also known for its traditional sparkling and sweet versions.
How it tastes
Straw yellow in the glass, with delicate floral and fruity notes. Green apple and citrus on the palate, then a saline, mineral edge that comes from the hills and the sea air. It finishes with a distinct sweet almond note, the signature of Verdicchio, and the high acidity keeps it taut and fresh from the first sip to the last.
Good to know
Verdicchio has been grown in the Marche for centuries, and the Castelli di Jesi zone takes its name from the medieval hill towns that ring the vineyards. The grape is known for holding its acidity well, which is why it can taste lean and mineral in one vintage and fuller and rounder in another.
