10 Reasons to Love Verdelho

With flavours like red apple, guava, pineapple and paw paw, Verdelho is a fantastic fruity style of white wine that has huge appeal in Australia, and its popularity continues to grow.

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Like another local favourite – Shiraz, Verdelho is a style Australia has adopted as its own and we are now world leaders in the production of this light, fresh and deliciously food-friendly wine. Most wine lovers have heard of Verdelho, but what does Verdelho taste like? Read on to find out!

Verdelho, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

1. Australia Produces World-Class Verdelho Expressions

Hailing from the Portuguese island of Madeira, off the coast of Morocco, Verdelho first came to Australia in 1825 and was used in the production of fortified wines. Since then, the vines have flourished down under, with around 80% of the global production of Verdelho coming from Australia. We have well and truly made it our own.

2. Verdelho Is A Perfect Starting Point For Your Wine Journey

The light-bodied, sweet but not-too-sweet style of Verdelho makes it an approachable varietal for anyone new to the world of wine. With its fresh, tropical fruit characters, unoaked style, and sheer drinkability, Australian Verdelho is always a crowd-pleaser. It’s a great wine to start with before moving into more full-bodied styles like Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier.

3. Verdelho Is A Wine For All Seasons

Whether you’re soaking up the spring sunshine, escaping the summer heat, or cosying up in front of the fire, Verdelho is a wine for all seasons. A light and refreshing Verdelho is perfect for lunching alfresco or packing for a picnic in the park. It’s also a top choice served with a selection of nibbles after a plunge in the pool.

4. Hundreds Of Australian Wineries Make Verdelho

With over 400 Australian wineries producing Verdelho, you’ll never go thirsty. Verdelho thrives in warmer climates with some of the finest coming out of Western Australia and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.

5. Verdelho Loves To Chill Out

Like most white wines, Verdelho is best served chilled, but not too cold otherwise you won’t be able to smell its lovely aromas, nor taste its fabulous fruit characters.

6. Verdelho Doesn’t Really Need Cellaring

What’s also great about this joyous drop, is that it is a ‘drink now’ style and doesn’t need to be cellared for very long, if at all. That means there is no wait time and you can enjoy your Verdelho soon after its release.

7. Verdelho Is A Palate Pleaser

Australian Verdelho has a steady following, not surprising given how well the fresh, clean nature of these wines suit our food and lifestyle, as it’s great with Asian cuisine. Generally, the cooler grown or early picked examples are leaner and finer, showing citrus fruit, grassy and herb flavours. Warmer grown, riper Verdelho is more often richer, fuller with ripe tropical fruit salad flavours. Australian Verdelho is made as a drink-now wine, so enjoy it while it’s young and fresh.

8. Verdelho Is Incredibly Food-Friendly

All great wines pair deliciously with particular styles of cuisine. Verdelho is no exception. The fruit-driven flavours and tropical freshness of Verdelho pair exceptionally well with white meat and fish, salads and spicy Asian food – think fresh oysters and green chicken curry, or try a bottle with smoked chicken breast and your favourite sides. Verdelho is a perfect choice to serve with a host of spicy Asian cuisines including Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian, so make sure you have a selection in your cellar or wine fridge for a mid-week takeout treat.

9. Verdelho Inspires Cooking And Creating

Call up some friends, crack open a bottle of Verdelho, and get creative in the kitchen. To help get you started on your Verdelho adventure, we’ve chosen some of our favourite recipes for a host of delectable food matches. So, get your apron on and get to it.