61 Vermouth Verdejo

Bodega Cuatro Rayas is a cooperative in La Seca, in the Rueda area of Castilla y León, a town known for the quality of its Verdejo. This vermouth is unusual in using a Verdejo base wine, where most reach for neutral whites, and the grape's own character carries through. Rueda's vineyards sit on stony, free draining soils at altitude on the Castilian plateau, where wide swings between hot days and cold nights hold acidity and the green, herbal aromatics typical of Verdejo. That base is fortified and aromatised by macerating wormwood and Mediterranean botanicals, the bitter and aromatic compounds drawn out before light sweetening and resting. The colour is pale gold. The nose shows clear Verdejo varietal character alongside scrubland herbs, fennel, elderflower, thyme and rosemary. The palate is balanced and fresh, the herbal bitterness and citrus held in check by the wine's acidity, finishing clean and dry. Serve well chilled over ice with a slice of lemon or a green olive as an aperitif. It also suits grilled white fish, fresh shellfish and young goats' cheese.