Move over summer Sauvignon Blanc - vibrant Verdejo is here!

Spain’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc is Verdejo. With all the same bright citrusy aromatics, fresh juicy palate and lively acidity, Verdejo is a must for all fans of Sauvignon Blanc. The best examples of Verdejo come from the Rueda region located in northwestern Spain, and we have the best of the best for you! Oro de Castilla, a wine that has received a string of 90 point scores vintage after vintage from Vinous Media since 2007. In fact wine critic Josh Raynolds regards it so highly he calls it “a textbook Verdejo” and he’s not alone, many people consider Oro de Castilla to be the reference point for Verdejo. In its certification class for SWE (Spanish Wine Educator), The Spanish Wine Academy presents Oro de Castilla as a “best example” Verdejo for its section on the Rueda region!

Oro de Castilla Verdejo 2019

Buy six or more pay just $14.99 per

All Else on Sale $15.99 

94 pts Decanter!

Oro de Castilla (“the Gold of Castille”) is a wine made by Bodegas Hermanos del Villar in the Rueda DO region. This wine's exceptional quality is rooted in two characteristics that make this vineyard unique in the region and impart a distinctive brightness and minerality. The region receives fairly low rainfall – 16 inches over the course of a year (compare with locally, where we receive over 46 on average.) This can produce excessive stress on the average vine, causing it to “shut down” and not fully ripen the fruit. But Oro de Castilla’s vines are among the oldest in the region, with deep root systems that penetrate the limestone and mineral subsoils, which retain moisture for the vines, especially during the dry, active growing season. The vineyard is also located at a high elevation, overlooking the town of Rueda, planted in a bed of river stones.  These stones are excellent at retaining heat, which keeps the vines warm and continues the ripening process through the cool nights. Old vines and river stones… a unique one-two punch to yield grapes with superior aromas and flavor intensity. Nighttime harvesting maintains freshness and minimizes oxidation. Finally, the lees (spent yeast cells) of the wine are stirred while the wine is in tank, a process which results in a rich mouthfeel.

I love this wine’s vibrancy, it’s fresh grassy aromas mixed with tart lemon and tropical tangerine really draw you in. Take a deeper whiff and there’s even more complexity, subtle ginger and chamomile tea notes adding nuance. There’s a Loire Sauvignon Blanc kind of intensity to this wine as well, with a mouth coating palate that’s full of fresh citrus and melon fruits, and that firm minerality that is really reminiscent of the top wines of Sancerre. A stunning white that is sure to please as a patio pounder and as a great food wine too. Sockeye salmon, Mahi Mahi or flounder simply pan fried in a beurre blanc, or plank roasted. Salads with grilled chicken, asparagus or toasted almonds would also pair well, as well as soft, ripe cheeses. 

"Lovely Verdejo aromas of nettles, lemon curd and fresh herbs. Bright, full bodied and fleshy with pineapple, a squeeze of lime, banana and mango. Crisp and refreshing." Decanter

Simply put, if you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc, northern Italian whites, and all manner of Spanish and Portuguese goodies then this wine is a must try for you!


   Or reply. Available now in Chapel Hill. Friday afternoon in Hillsborough.