Verdeca

Verdeca is a white Italian wine grape variety that is primarily grown in Apulia in southern Italy where ampelographers believe that the grape may have originated. In Apulia, it is one of the main grapes in the Denominazione di origine controllata wines of Locorotondo DOC and Martina Franca DOC along with Bianco d’Alessano. In Campania, it is grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius where it used as a blending variety with Falanghina, Coda di volpe and Greco in both the white wines and the sweet dessert wine of the region named Lacryma Christi. It is also a minor component used in the some vermouth production.
While used mostly as blending variety, Verdeca on its own can produce minerally wines that tend to have a “flinty” note. The grape ripens very late and even in the very warm regions of southern Italy tends to have fairly high acidity and green, vegetal notes.