The central Italian region of Le Marche is well known for its beautiful coastline, attracting thousands of tourists a year to the white sandy beaches, towering cliffs and clear blue waters. One of Italy’s hidden coastal food and wine destinations, it offers picturesque, Instagram worthy views, hillside vineyards, and is home to some of Italy’s most versatile rare grapes.
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Verdicchio
Verdicchio (pronounced ver-dee-kee-oh) is a popular white grape variety in the region. However, Verdicchio isn’t so well known here in North America. Breath-taking views over the rolling Castelli di Jesi hills offer up sights of grapes basking in the Italian sunshine looking east at the Adriatic sea and south west to Roma.
The name and word ‘Verdicchio’ derives from the word ‘verde’ or ‘green’ and also refers to the slight green/yellow hue colour that wines made from this grape can have. Also meaning ‘little green one’ the small green berries give away to a wine that has a crisp, clean and fresh taste profile perfect for the warm-weather of the region of Le Marche.
The ancient grape Verdicchio is truly the pride and joy of the Le Marche and has been grown for the last six centuries in this area. With notes of ripe lemon and lime citrus and offering a slight almond finish, the mouth-watering acidity of this wine also makes it a versatile wine for pairing with a great variety of foods.
Fazi Battaglia has been an icon wine from this region. With 130 hectares of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico, Fazi Battaglia represents the history and tradition of Marche wine all over the world.
The historic amphora-shaped bottle of Fazi Battaglia Verdicchio was created just after the Second World War, has has now become a symbol for Verdicchio Italian wine. The winery was seeking a bottle that paid homage to history but also had a unique shape. They wanted to make their little-known Verdicchio immediately recognisable around the world so in 1953 a competition was announced for the call for someone to design a unique bottle. An architect by the name of Antonio Maiocchi won and the unmistakable amphora-shaped bottle was created. Inspired by ancient Etruscan containers (the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area of central Italy called Tuscany.) the result was a curvy amphora bottle linked not just to the image of the winery, but also to a grape variety and the Le Marche territory as a whole.
Fazi Battaglia Verdiccchio is crafted by four generations of winemaking history and currently also has a scroll attached to its bottle that details the winery history and also a map.
When I asked Chef Marco Marani, who is from the Le Marche what his favorite food pairings were he said
“For a food pairing with Verdicchio I think of fish, something light, delicate and delicious like crudo. If you’re talking primi I would do a risotto with either seafood or shellfish, accompanied with delicate veg such as zucchini or asparagus. Verdicchio is also perfect matches for poultry such chicken and even duck.”
Fazi Battaglia Verddichio is light and crisp and has great mineratly to the palate. Pick up a bottle and become inspired to create a Mediterranean dish that makes you smile. Chill the Verdicchio before serving and get creative with your pairings. Save the bottle as a great piece of décor and be sure to put the region of Le Marche on your travel bucket list.
