Le Marche, Italy
The biodynamic Fattoria San Lorenzo makes probably the finest Verdicchio in central Italy's Le Marche region. The winery itself is a family run affair headed by Natalino Cognaletti and is based in Montecarotto. Natalino inherited the estate from his father Gino, who himself inherited it from his father Enrico. Enrico was also a master cooper, and Gino spent much of his life selecting old clones of Verdicchio from ancient vineyards. This particular Verdicchio comes from vineyards located to the west of Ancona in the dei Castelli di Jesi region. The area's proximity to the Adriatic Sea is believed to add a touch of saltiness to the wines. This award-winning white makes a great pairing with rich seafood dishes. (Verdicchio's name is derived from 'verde' meaning green, referring to the yellowish-green skin of the grape which imparts a subtle greenish hue to the wine).
On the nose look for aromas of apples, sun-dried fruits and hazelnuts. Dry and crisp on the palate with flavours of melon and citrus fruits. The most remarkable aspect to this wine is the extraordinarily long finish, making this a great food wine with roast chicken, pan-fried prawns in butter or honey-baked ham.