Vermentino grapes on the vine
VerdecaVerdeca is a white grape variety that was widespread in Ancient Greece and is now found in the Apulia region of southern Italy. It is tart and vegetal, appearing in blends such as Locorotondo DOC and Gravina DOC, and in vermouth.
Verdicchio is a white grape variety grown mostly in The Marche region of central Italy. Its flavors include almond and citrus with a zip and a bitter finish. Look for Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC.
Verduzzo Fruilano
Verduzzo Fruilano is a light-skinned white grape found in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northern Italy. Its dry wines are often acidic with generous citrus fruits. Its sweet wines have a deep golden color and taste of almonds, honey, and tropical fruits.
Vermentino
Vermentino is a very hardy crisp, acidic white grape found in the Liguria and Tuscany regions of central Italy and the Sardinia region of southern Italy. It also grows in Corsica, and may be related to the Vermentino grape of Portugal and Spain. It smells and tastes of citrus fruits, grass, almonds, and herbs. See I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Liguria Region for a review of a Vermentino wine.
Vernaccia
Vernaccia is a white grape from The Marche and Tuscany regions of central Italy. Its best known wine is Tuscany’s Vernaccia di San Gimignano a DOCG wine that plays to very mixed reviews. This grape is also transformed into a fizzy red Vernaccia di Serrapetrona in The Marche and a fortified wine Vernaccia di Cagliari in the Sardinia region of southern Italy. Talk about versatility.
Vespolina
Vespolina is a red grape native to the Piedmont region of northern Italy. It is a blending variety, often combined with its famous neighbor Nebbiolo. Vespolina smells and tastes of black and red fruits, mushrooms, and wildflowers as does Nebbiolo, but its tannins are softer.