Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi at Vinitaly
The origin of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
The Castles of Jesi includes a set of municipalities in Vallesina area placed around the historic town of Jesi. In the Middle Ages these lands were gradually conquered and given to the farmers of Jesi. This city was awarded the title of Royal City by the Emperor Frederick II who was born here on 26 December 1194. It is said that Costanza d’Altavilla hand over the Emperor Frederick during his trip to Rome in a camp placed in the town square.
The story of Verdicchio has its roots in ancient times, and it seems was already known from the ancient Romans. The first written record talks about a wine made from his grapes dates back to 410 b.C. when, at the end of the crisis of the Roman Empire, the peninsula was crossed by hordes of barbarians.
The production area of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, not far from the sea, consists of hills that reach 500 meters in height. From here the rivers Esino, Musone and Misa flow through the valleys. The ideal placement of the vineyards is on the sunny hills, refreshed by the constant breeze that comes from the Adriatic and that prevents the formation of moisture on the grapes. These lands are clay-rich and calcareous silt and sand rich with saltpetre benches. Them now fall in the province of Ancona and correspond to existing municipalities of Cupramontana, Staffolo, Jesi Montecarotto, Serra de Conti, Castelbellino, Castelplanio, Maiolati, San Paulo, and the municipality of Cingoli which today is comprehended in the province of Macerata. The special conditions of these wine areas are irreproducible: the soils are generally silty-clay and limestone, poor in organic matter but sufficiently equipped potassium, ideal to 
allow the grapes to develop aromas of particular finesse. Good exposure and the cool sea breezes ensure extreme temperature changes between night and day, allow the grapes to develop the right acidity.
In 2009 the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi was awarded the DOCG for both the variant Riserva (reserve), and Classico (classic). The first is characterized for a longer aging, also in wood, for a period of at least 18 months, 6 of which are in the bottle .The second is characterized for grapes grown in the oldest area of production which excludes the towns of Senigallia and Ostra and the area placed to the left of the Misa river.
The term “Verdicchio” is derived from “Green”, and indicates the greenish and bright reflections of the wine produced from these grapes. About the origin of this type of white grape varieties there are discordant opinions: the majority argues that it is an indigenous variety, others locate its birth in the Marche region following the establishment in the territory of some Venetian settlers.
The organoleptic characteristics of this ancient wine are strongly linked to the territory; in the area of Verdicchio, millions of years ago there was a salt lake with a sandy bottom, clay and limestone, rich in iron and magnesium.
From these greapes are obtained fresh wines, the flavor profile extremely complex and characterized by a distinctive almond finish and savory.
This is a wine that can age with great elegance like few other whites in Italy, thanks also to the great structure, acidity and the high alcohol content. The Verdicchio grapes are always characterized by a greenish tinge, even when fully ripe and this explain the name of the grape.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi arrives at Vinitaly
This greenish tinge, gives its name to a prestigious Verdicchio pruduced by Moncaro wine-maker: The Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Ca’Ruptae. Guest of excellence at the 50th edition of Vinitaly, it is in stand E10 of Terre Cortesi Moncaro.
This Verdicchio wine is produced from grapes grown in vineyards located in the districts San Martino (Serra de ‘Conti), San Lorenzo (Montecarotto) and Piagge (Castelplanio) areas. These lands are typically part of the production area D.O.C. with a limited area in the municipality of Matelica.
The Ca’Ruptae comes from grapes 100% Verdicchio and may have age from 3 to 8 years. It gives the best with rich shellfish starters and pasta with seafood sauce. It is also excellent with fried fish and white fish baked, as well as with tasty and succulent grilled sea. Not for this disdain the white meats.
For information on Ca’Ruptae: http://www.moncaro.com/it/vini/dettaglio/10-verde-ca-ruptae
Link to policy document of Verdicchio
