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Long-lived by nature

An autochthonous wine to multiple territories with 400 entrepreneurial producers. These are the factors which pinpoint the 23 municipalities of the province of Ancona and the 2 of the province of Macerata that are this year celebrating 50 years of "Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi" DOC (1968 - 2018). 50 years of history, passion and unique appeal that have made Verdicchio the symbol of this land. A unique, long-lived wine, of great structure and excellent quality destined to leave an indelible mark in the history of Italian viticulture.

Excise Stamp


From the 1st of September 2020, more and more quality for Doc Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. The production lot, which already guarantees traceability, will be replaced by the excise stamp which will strengthen the quality assurance for the end consumer.

The DOC

The essence of a land

It is the ancient, yet also very modern, gold of the Marches region. The name comes from the green colour (verde in Italian, translator’s note) of its grapes, even when fully ripe. Verdicchio has been present on the hills of the Esina Valley since time immemorial. Gaining DOC recognition on 26 September 1968, ratifying the uniqueness of this wine, it remains today the most award-winning still white wine in Italy. The “DOC” designation clarifies that Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is produced with at least 85% Verdicchio grapes, cultivated in 23 municipalities of the province of Ancona and in 2 of the province of Macerata. The term “Classico” is reserved for wines produced in the oldest region. “Classico Superiore” is obtained from vineyards in which the yield per hectare from the grapes is lower. It is amongst the very few white wines to also have a “Riserva” category, in view of its remarkable ability to age and mature deliciously, acquiring complexity, harmony and depth, to the extent that in 2010 it obtained the Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG recognition. The Spumante category is one of the best and oldest in Italy. The credit of having exported into France, a highly regarded Spumante wine, goes to Ubaldo Rosi. That was in the middle of the 19th century. Thanks to the great flexibility and quality of the grapes, there is also a Passito variant.
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Places
Municipalities classic DOC area

*Arcevia (An)
Belvedere Ostrense (An)
Castelbellino (An)
Castelplanio (An)
Cupramontana (An)
Maiolati Spontini (An)
Mergo (An)
Monteroberto (An)
Montecarotto (An)
Morro d'Alba (An)
Poggio San Marcello (An)
Rosora (An)
San Marcello (An)
San Paolo di Jesi (An)
*Serra De' Conti (An)
Serra San Quirico (An)
Staffolo (An)
Apiro (Mc)
Cingoli (Mc)
Municipalities DOC area

Barbara (An)
Castelleone di Suasa (An)
Corinaldo (An)
Ostra (An)
Ostra Vetere (An)
Senigallia (An)

* Municipalities only partially affected by the Classic DOC area
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DOC

The History

Beyond legend

The history of this wine remains to be written. It is certain, however, that Verdicchio is characterised as an authentic marker of the land and of its time, starting with its legends, that it is associated with the main historical characters, from the Etruscans to the king of the Visigoths, Alaric, and Frederick II. Today, however, Verdicchio has little to do with its past, because its path is marked, in recent times, by a change of direction. After years of phylloxera, a revival took place at the hands of a group of entrepreneurs around the 1950s, when they resumed setting their stakes again in Verdicchio. The launch of the bottle, from the modern design to amphora, designed by the architect Antonio Maiocchi, then brought the bottle itself to popularity, with many imitations, even in folklore. The qualitative revolution of usage in the 1970s (from quantity to quality, towards the beautiful and good), which created the phenomena of Italian design and fashion, produced a new Renaissance, including in the food and wine sector, thus involving Verdicchio. Since the 1980s, in fact, a new quality path has begun, through a surprising progression based on a balance between tradition and innovative techniques regarding pruning, yields, harvest times, working in the wine cellar and wine-making techniques. A specific and rigorous task, with a development that was as planned as it is astonishing, for a product which may be described either as a fresh and balanced wine or as a Riserva with more body and harmony, and which is able, today, to achieve many recognitions in the official wine guides.

The Grapevine

The balance of the senses

Coming from a white grapevine, Verdicchio is amongst the most important in Italy. It is distinguishable by it sapid, mineral flavour, aromatic and olfactory persistence, versatility, and capacity to age well. Verdicchio has great structure and fragrance, with a nose of fruit with white flesh, citrus fruits, white and yellow flowers, almonds, white fennel, and aniseed. It is fresh and sapid, has a very long finale with the characteristic hint of almonds and a vivid mineral after-taste. It goes well with fish and seafood, white meats, cheese and, because of its great versatility, accompanies great cuisine from aperitifs through to dessert. A unique wine, of great quality, complexity, and capacity to improve over time. It grows on a land with a multiple character and this is the secret of its endless nuances.

The Number of Verdicchio

2.1101.5 6101.5 4431.5 1021.5 1361.5 147.7181.5 165.6271.5 37.500.0001.5
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Datails
Verdicchio cultivated surface:
2.110 ha

Renovated vineyards:
610 restored hectares

Grape producers:
443

Winemaking companies:
102

Bottlers:
136

Certified DOC wine:
147.718 hectoliters

Bottled DOC wine:
165.627 hectoliters

Revenue:
€ 37.5 million (52% domestic market and 48% export)

Export:
Usa (22%), Northern Europe (20%), Germany (17%), United Kingdom (8%) and China (6%)
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Numbers

The Territory

Between the sea and the hills

The Esina valley is a sort of geographic paradox in the Marches. It is the only one which runs parallel to the coastline and is affected, simultaneously, both by the fresh air from the mountains and the brackish winds from the Adriatic. The result is a ‘sea Verdicchio’ which differs from the ‘mountain Verdicchio’ which is usually identified as Verdicchio di Matelica. The high areas which affect the ‘sea Verdicchio’ are those of Cingoli, Apiro, Cupramontana and Arcevia until you reach the Esino and Misa valleys. This unique micro climate, with aggressive temperature changes, intensifies the wine aromas. The composition of the land, which varies from area to area, allows the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi to have different qualitative intonations. Chalky soils which go from sandstone to clay with altitudes on average between 80 and 450 metres up to 600 metres above sea level. The great biodiversity of these hills offers the vineyard, which extends over approximately 2,200 hectares, very specific environments, a long way from the monoculture of other, more exploited, wine-producing regions. In order to increase this natural abundance, over the last few years, in the pursuit of absolute excellence, the winemakers have substantially renewed the vineyards.

Jesi’s Castles

Time and Memory

The landscape in the Marches region is marked by vineyards, alternating with olives and grain. All this makes up the Verdicchio land. Playing a leading role in these lands are the Jesi Castles, located in the oldest Verdicchio production area. Apiro, Arcevia, Belvedere Ostrense, Castelbellino, Castelplanio, Cingoli, Cupramontana, Maiolati Spontini, Mergo, Monteroberto, Montecarotto, Morro d'Alba, Poggio San Marcello, Rosora, San Paolo di Jesi, San Marcello, Serra de' Conti, Serra San Quirico and Staffolo form a large walled belt around the royal city: Jesi. The Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi production region also includes, however, the areas of the municipalities of Barbara, Castelleone di Suasa, Corinaldo, Ostra, Ostra Vetere and Senigallia.

The walls of the various Jesi Castles are all similar, aiming to afford a form of defence against dangers, both from the sea and from the people of the north, but also from fighting between the large families who shared this region of Italy. The Jesi Castles have been preserved with great care and contain fine churches and palaces. In addition, in more than half of them there is one of the famous theatres of the Marches, small gems built between the 1700s and 1800s, a real Scala Theatre in miniature. Each agglomeration had its own county, each Abbey had its own agricultural relevance and in each one there were, and still are, Verdicchio vineyards. This grapevine has, indeed, always been the marker of the land, the people’s livelihood, pride of these lands. Verdicchio comes, in fact, from lands in the Aesina Republic, founded by the emperor Frederick II, defined “Stupor mundi et immutator mirabilis”.
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Villages
Apiro
Arcevia
Belvedere Ostrense
Castelbellino
Castelplanio
Cingoli
Cupramontana
Maiolati Spontini
Mergo
Monteroberto
Montecarotto
Morro d'Alba
Poggio San Marcello
Rosora
San Paolo di Jesi
San Marcello
Serra de' Conti
Serra San Quirico
Staffolo

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Castles

Creators of a success

Work as a team. Establish synergies. Aim high. This is the shared vision of Verdicchio producers, united by a great passion for the wine which has its roots in a past of traditions and love for the land. The handover from one generation to another has allowed, on the one hand, preservation of the past, and on the other, creation of a dialogue with the present, but, above all, the means to listen to the future. Over the years the culture of vines, first passed down by word of mouth, has been enriched by technical skills to become a system. The Verdicchio community is a strategic one, formed from so many unique things and identities, able, however, to live in harmony with the natural environment and to make its own diversity the secret of its success.
THE PRODUCERS PROTAGONISTS OF THE PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF DOC VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI