Verdejo

This variety originated in the Rueda wine-growing region (Spain). It is now authorized in a large part of the Iberian Peninsula due to the high quality of the wines it provides. Abundant in Valladolid, Segovia and Avila. It can also be found in the Canary Islands and now in La Rioja. Outside Spain, it can be found mainly in Australia and Portugal. In the past, the name Verdelho was used to refer to several non-equivalent varieties, such as Verdelho (from Madeira), Gouveio (Godello) and Verdejo, creating much confusion in the ampelographic platforms of many countries.

CULTIVATED AREA IN SPAIN

YEAR	1990	2009	2010
HECTARES	6.443	3.950	12.629

Budburst period: medium.
Ripening period: medium-late.
Yield: average.

Ampelographic characters:

the bud has an open hairless apex and anthocyanin pigmentation. The medium-sized, five-lobed, orbicular leaf has a slightly open and lyre-shaped petiolar sinus. The cluster is medium-small, cylindrical and not very compact. The medium-small spherical berry has a green-yellow skin.

Cultural aptitude:

vine of medium vigour and semi-creeping growth habit. It adapts well to less fertile soils. It tolerates droughts quite well.

Training system and pruning:

it adapts to gobelet and espalier training systems with medium-long pruning, especially in fertile soils, where it can give coulure problems.

Susceptibility to diseases and adverse conditions:

highly susceptible to powdery mildew, moderately susceptible to botrytis.

Enological potential:

it produces wines of intense yellow colour, good acidity and alcohol content, of excellent aromatic complex, very fruity with herbaceous hints. On the palate they are fresh, acidic, full-bodied, of great persistence. It produces excellent monovarietal wines or blended with Sauvignon Blanc and Macabeo. Its structure allows fermentation and aging in barrels.