April 23, 2019
Collestefano's 2018 Verdicchio Sings of Summer

On the northwest coast of the Adriatic Sea lies the mountainous region of the Central Marche—the land of the classic Italian grape Verdicchio (pronounced ver-dee-kee-oh).

The earliest plantings of Verdicchio can be traced back to the 14th century, when farmers escaped the Great Plague and headed south to the Marche. Meaning “little green one” in Italian, Verdicchio wines are known for their bright citrus fruit, minerality, and ability to age. Unlike their more Mediterranean neighbors, the inland area of Verdicchio di Matelica has a cool and dry microclimate, resulting in a more firm, aromatic and bright Verdicchio wine. It is here that one finds Fabio Marchionni of Collestefano, the man behind some of the finest Verdicchio wines of the region.

Electric freshness, bright citrus, and savory minerality, there is a lot packed into each bottle of Collestefano’s Verdicchio, not just in taste, but in history. The Marchionni family first arrived in Verdicchio di Matelica in 1960, working hard to purchase their own vineyard in 1978. Today, the winery is run by winemaker Fabio Marchionni, who returned home from his tenure of working German weingüter to take over the family estate in 1998. Fabio, who wrote his oenology thesis on the wine of Verdicchio di Matelica, has since quickly ascended the ranks as one of the essential producers of the region. Sustainably farmed and certified organic since 1995, all of Collestefano’s vines are manually harvested and propagated employing massal selection.


Fabio’s 2018 Verdicchio di Matelica has once again brought home all there is to love about the wine his side of the Central Marche.

In the glass, the wine is straw colored, with a welcoming nose of citrus and cardamom. From the start, notes of citrus fruit and white peach on the palate are carried through with bright acidity and crisp freshness. The midpalate sings of juicy tangerines, sweet almonds, and clean minerality.

Pair this wine with bruschetta, seafood starters, or fresh pasta with a classic Italian pesto sauce for your summer dinner parties.