Verdiso: The Unsung Hero Behind Prosecco’s Fresh Elegance
Verdiso is an indigenous white grape variety, cultivated mainly in the province of Treviso, in the jolly and welcoming region of Veneto. This grape variety is known for its high acidity, which makes it ideal for the production of fresh and sparkling wines, particularly as a minority component in the Prosecco DOCG blends from the hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene. Verdiso gives wines floral aromas, notes of fresh fruit such as green apple and citrus fruits, as well as a pleasant minerality and a slightly bitter aftertaste.
History and Origin
Verdiso has a long history in the Treviso hills, where it has been cultivated since the 19th century. Today it is considered a complementary grape variety that contributes structure, freshness and complexity to sparkling wines, especially in combination with the better known Glera. Historically, it was much more widespread, but over the years it has lost ground to more productive varieties such as Glera.
Wine Characteristics
Wines made from Verdiso are fresh and light, with lively acidity and good aromatic complexity. They are characterised by their fruity profile, with notes of green apple, citrus and herbaceous hints. In Prosecco blends, Verdiso helps improve the wine’s freshness and acidity, making it more structured. In pure versions or as passito, Verdiso can also show more complex notes, such as honey and dried apricot, particularly evident in the sweet wine Torchiato di Fregona DOCG, where it must make up at least 30% of the blend.
Production Areas
Verdiso is grown almost exclusively in the Treviso Hills area, especially around Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. The main appellations using this grape variety include:
- Colli Trevigiani IGT
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
- Torchiato di Fregona DOCG In these areas, Verdiso thrives on well-drained hilly soils, characterised by a dry and sunny climate, which enhances its natural acidity.
Characteristics of the Plant
The Verdiso plant is vigorous and adapted to hilly terrain, with medium-sized, compact clusters and small, light green, thin-skinned grapes. It is a disease-resistant variety, but not very widespread due to its low productivity compared to other Veneto varieties.
Pairings
Due to its freshness and acidity, Verdiso-based wines go well with seafood dishes such as spaghetti with clams, seafood salads, grilled prawns, lemon marinated swordfish and sushi. The sparkling versions are ideal as aperitifs, while the sweet passiti can be served with blue cheeses or apple pie.
