Region: Marche
History: Established as a DOC in 1968; Riserva became the Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG in 2010
Vineyard Area: 2,013 ha / 4,972 acres (2013, V)
Production: 142,000 hl (total 2013/14, V); avg. 1,609,000 cases bottled annually
Principal White Grape Varieties: Verdicchio
Styles and Wine Composition:
WHITE WINES
- Bianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Verdicchio + OAWG
- Superiore (Classico)
SPARKLING WINES
- Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 85% Verdicchio + OAWG
- Riserva (Spumante)
DESSERT AND SPECIALTY WINES
- Passito (WhSw): Minimum 85% Verdicchio + OAWG
Subzones:
- Classico, the historic production area
- 99 menzioni geografiche aggiuntive (“additional geographical definitions”) and 18 communes (see list below)
Significant Production Rules:
- For Passito, grapes must be dried on or off the vine to achieve a minimum sugar level of 230 g/l (23.0%) and can be pressed only between October 15, V, and March 30, V+1
- All Spumante except Riserva must be vintage dated
- Minimum alcohol level: 11.5% for Bianco and Spumante; 12.0% for Classico Superiore; 12.0% for Passito (15.0% potential)
- Residual sugar: Spumante can range from extra brut to dry
- Aging: For Spumante Riserva, minimum 1 year, including 9 months on the lees (ERD approx. October 1, V+1); for Passito, minimum 8–13 months (ERD = December 1, V+1)
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