Vermentino grape variety and wines

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Vermentino is one of the exciting new white varietals that are making an impression on the wine scene in Australia.

Vermentino is an aromatic white wine variety whose native habitat is now the Italian region of Liguria and the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica where it is also known as Malviose of Corsica. It is also becoming increasingly popular under the name of Rolle in Provence and in the Languedoc-Roussillon Wine Region in Southern France. Other synonyms include Piccobon, Uva Sapaiola, Vermentino Bianco, Formentino (Italy); Carbesso. Carbes, Brustiano di Corsica, Malvasia Grossa, Malvasie Precoce d’Espagne, Malvasie à Gros Grains.

Pork dish for food pairing with Vermentino

George Biron's Roast Pork with Quinces and Myrtle to pair with Vermentino

Since the turn of the century more Australian wineries, especially on the mild to warm Australian regions are turning to Vermentino.

The variety has the ability to produce wines with firm acidity and good flavour even under the hot conditions experienced in some recent vintages.

At the 2009 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show in the organisers set up a class for Vermentino to be judged separately. Previously it was in the "other whites" class.

My expectation is that this variety will play a prominent role in wine areas that are too warm to produce quality wine from Chardonnay.

Vermentino Wine in Australia

The wineries in the list below are using vermentino. If you know of any more plese add a comment in the box below.

919 Wines Riverland
Aldinga Bay McLaren Vale
Aravina Margaret River
Atse's Corner Wines Barossa Valley
bassham Riverland
Bella Riva King Valley
Bottin Wines McLaren Vale
Box Grove Vineyard Nagambie Lakes
Boyntons Feathertop Alpine Valleys
Brown Brothers King Valley
Bullers Calliope Rutherglen
Carpe Diem Margaret River
Chalk Hill Winery McLaren Vale
Chalmers Murray Darling
Cobaw Ridge Macedon Ranges
Di Lusso Estate Mudgee
Ducks in a Row McLaren Vale
Fox Creek Wines McLaren Vale
Foxey's Hangout Mornington Peninsula
Golden Grove Estate Granite Belt
Gumpara Winery Barossa Valley
Halifax McLaren Vale
King River Estate King Valley
Mansfield Wines Mudgee
Mitolo McLaren Vale
Murdering Hut Creek Rutherglen
Olivers Taranga McLaren Vale
Parish Hill Wines Adelaide Hills
Politini King Valley
Rimfire Vineyards Darling Downs
Rossiters Murray Darling
Rupert's Ridge Estate Heathcote
Seaview McLaren Vale
Serafino Wines McLaren Vale
Spinifex Barossa Valley
Tall Poppy Murray Darling
Tallavera Grove Winery Hunter Valley
Temple Bruer Langhorne Creek
Trentham Estate Murray Darling
Vale Creek Wines Central Ranges Zone
Vasarelli Currency Creek
Yalumba Wine Company Barossa Valley
Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek

Food Pairing with Vermentino

Vermentino wines are robust and can be enjoyed with a variety of well flavoured foods.

My good friend George Biron of Sunnybrae Restaurant at Birregurra near Geelong has published a great recipe for Roast Pork with Quinces and Myrtle See the photo above. If you were to enjoy this dish with a white wine then Vermentino would be my first choice.

You could also enjoy this variety with Darby's famous tapenade, an antipasto platter or strongly flavoured seafood dishes.

More broadly you can choose any of the foods of the Western Mediterranean, including Italian, Provencal or Catalan.

More food pairing ideas with Vermentino

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