Verdicchio is the signature white grape of the Marche region on Italy's Adriatic coast, and one of the country's finest native whites, known for its crisp acidity, almond finish and unusual ability to age. Its two great homes are the Castelli di Jesi hills and the high valley of Matelica.
The name comes from the green-gold tinge (verde means green) of the grapes and the young wine. Verdicchio has been grown in the Marche for centuries. In the 1950s it became famous abroad in a curved, amphora-shaped bottle, and for a time it was seen as a simple fish wine. Since the 1980s, quality-focused producers have shown that it can make complex whites that improve for ten years or more. DNA research has shown that Verdicchio is genetically the same as Trebbiano di Soave and Turbiana, the grape of Lugana.
The larger of the two Verdicchio areas is Castelli di Jesi, named after the medieval hill towns around Jesi, inland from Ancona. Vineyards lie on rolling hills on both sides of the Esino river, from about 150 to 500 metres. The Adriatic is close, and the climate is mild, with sea breezes. The Classico zone is the historic heart of the area.
Matelica is much smaller and lies further inland, in a high valley between the Apennine ridges, running north to south and therefore not open to the sea. The climate is more continental, with cold winters and big day-night temperature swings, which give wines of higher acidity and a more mineral, austere style.
Small amounts of Verdicchio are also grown in Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany.
Young Castelli di Jesi wines are fresh and fragrant; Classico Superiore and Riserva wines gain body and complexity. Matelica is sharper and more mineral. Good Verdicchio changes a lot with age: after five to ten years it becomes richer and more complex while keeping its freshness.
A Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore is the best starting point: it is affordable and shows the grape's freshness and almond finish. Then compare it with a Matelica to see the difference made by altitude and an inland climate, and try a Riserva to discover how Verdicchio ages. Our guides to the best Verdicchio wines and the best Marche wines suggest specific bottles.
Producers worth knowing include Garofoli, Umani Ronchi, Pievalta, Santa Barbara, Coroncino, Marotti Campi, Fattoria San Lorenzo and Borgo Paglianetto. Don't be afraid of older vintages: well-kept bottles are often at their best after a few years.
For a similar style of Italian white with almond notes and good acidity, compare Verdicchio with Garganega from Soave and Vermentino. Browse more varieties in the grape varieties index.