Verdejo, love it or not?

I drink a lot of Verdejo, some say it’s the Iberian answer to Sauvignon Blanc (Sovee Bee) but for me, it has a bit more about it.

Sovee can be a bit , well, in your face, especially some of the New Zealand ones, and as nice as it can be ( and there are some excellent Sovee’s out there) Verdejo for me has more different faces, and it doesn’t shout at you as much.

Yes, there’s still a lemony background but it can have, other more subtle flavours including melon, citrus blossom, herbs and a nuttiness (almonds).

The good stuff comes from the appellation of Rueda in the north of Spain just to the west of Ribera Del Duero located on the Duero river around 150km (90 miles) northwest of the Spain’s capital, Madrid.

Go to any Spanish Restaurant and you will find an abundance of Verdejo on the wine list, and for me even the basic stuff is fine, I’ve rarely been disappointed with any bottle I’ve drunk.

Some say it can be rather bland and I kind of get it, to a certain degree but as I said, I’ve never really had one I couldn’t drink and I can’t say that about a lot of wine, if I see it on a wine list I’ll normally go for it.

Get a good one though and it can be a really complex wine, I love the zesty freshness, but for me, it’s that subtle herby, nuttiness (bitter almonds) that sets it apart.

The bottle I’ve opened should be recognizable to many, it’s part of the González Byass group, this Beronia is fermented in Stainless Steel and concrete.

Beronia Verdejo 2023

This smells of grapefruit and lemons, with an underlying fairly distinct herbaceous aroma.

Definitely on the Zesty, bright side, lots of acidity, lots of lemons, limes, crisp green apples and nectarines, there also is a hint of almond bitterness on the finish.

No oak here, maybe some peach (but fairly muted) , there’s also something like fennel there making it a little more interesting.

Ok, it’s a fairly mainstream Verdejo, but it’s from a good producer and there’s nothing to dislike.

For me I like the oaked bottles better, but this was pleasant enough without reaching any great heights, a solid wine I’d say.

Overlook Verdejo at your peril, It’s a wine that deserves attention and is usually affordable.

Got a way to go to beat my beloved Godello but in answer to the title of this post ‘I love it’ and will continue to drink it wherever I am, especially in Spain.

My rating 7/10 Corks