2023 Palma Real Verdejo ($17.99)
Palma Real (Royal Palm) Rueda Verdejo is a white wine from Spain made entirely from Verdejo grapes. The wine is produced by Bodegas Cerrosol, a family-owned winery located in the town of Santiuste de San Juan Bautista within the province of Segovia. Founded more than four decades ago, Bodegas Cerrosol was one of the early pioneering wineries to join the Rueda Designation of Origin (DO) when the official wine region classification was created in 1980.
The current chief winemaker, Javier del Río López focuses on preserving the natural characteristics of the local grape variety.
The grapes for this wine grow at a high altitude (~300 feet above sea level) on the Castilian plateau. This location has a climate with large temperature differences between days and nights, making it ideal for growing.
After harvest, the grapes were pressed, and the juice was fermented under controlled temperatures. The wine was made entirely in stainless steel tanks. It was aged for 3 months on the lees (dead yeast cells) which softens the mouthfeel of the wine.
This 2023 Palma Real Verdejo is medium gold in color with aromas of white peach and honeydew melon. On the palate, this medium-light bodied wine has bright acidity with tropical flavors of lime, grapefruit and green apple. It finishes bright with just a hint of tartness.
Palma Real Verdejo is a wonderfully refreshing wine that pairs well with any meat and cheese charcuterie board. It’s widely available and a great value. Those are the perfect components of the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!
The opinions expressed are entirely my own.