Quite possibly one of our favorite summer grape varieties, the Vermentino grape expresses a beautifully refined, light citrus and tree fruit personality. Vermentino is a thin skinned white wine grape. It thrives in warmer climate regions, due to its tendency to ripen quite late in the growing season. The most striking and natural styles of Vermentino wine are typically un-oaked, where they’re able to give off delightful mineral notes in addition to an abundance of other flavors.
Fans of Italian Pinot Gris will likely be intrigued by Vermentino. Luckily for us, this grape variety is incredibly easy to grow, in that it’s resistant to both drought and disease.
Vermentino vines grow in the excessively beautiful region of Cinque Terre, within Liguria, Italy. It’s here among terraced hillsides where these vines produce some of the finest quality Vermentino in the world, a stones throw away from the sea. Image courtesy Made in Italy.
Vermentino Origins & Growing Regions
For a long time, there’s been debate as to where this grape variety was born and raised. Today, thanks to improved methods for DNA testing, the general consensus is that Vermentino likely originated in Italy (PDF). Specifically, within the Liguria region, where it’s known as Pigato. However, other analyses point towards Hungary, where the grape is known as Furmint. The question at this time comes down to one thing – which came first?
Vermentino wines today are grown in both Old and New World regions. One of the more popular Old World terms you may already recognize is Rolle, which is the designation given to Vermentino grown throughout Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon in Southeastern France.
Vermentino does exceedingly well on the island of Sardinia. The grape grows in the shape of an upside down pyramid. Image courtesy Corsorzia di Tutela.
It’s also grown extensively throughout Italy, within Gallura, Liguria, Piedmont and the neighboring Italian islands of Corsica and Sardinia (Sardegna). Some of the best tasting Vermentino will come from these maritime areas, where it can grow at elevation and bathe in consistent bright sunlight. Coastal Vermentino grown in calcareous soil while being complimented by salty sea breezes expresses beautiful tree fruit, refreshing acid and chalky mineral tones.
In the New World, Vintners are also finding success with this thin-skinned grape variety as long as the growing season remains warm, bright and long. Producers based in both Lodi, California, along with those located in the up-and-coming region of Hill Country, Texas – are both producing refined and expressive Vermentino varietal wines.
Vermentino Wine Taste & Aroma Profile
It’s important to note that while Vermentino is traditionally a lighter-bodied, upbeat citrus & tree fruit based wine, it’s not always this consistent. Depending on where it’s grown and how it’s crafted, it can also exhibit richer characteristics. For instance, in Bolgheri, Tuscany – along the coast – grapes are exposed at length to both skins and lees. Compounded with barrel aging, these wine-making techniques will yield a bigger body and big hints of green apple pie.
Some producers use this grape to produce sweet white blends as well. Below, we’ll lay out some of the more prevalent tasting notes for Vermentino.
