Honoro Vera Blanco Rueda 2025

Honoro Vera Blanco is a varietal Verdejo from the D.O. Rueda, made by Bodegas y Viñedos Shaya, a project of the Juan Gil family group led by the Australian winemaker Belinda Thomson. Rueda sits high on the Castilian plateau, its stony soils of gravel and limestone over sand giving good drainage and reflecting light back into the canopy, while the altitude and cold nights preserve acidity and the herbal character that marks the grape. Verdejo is prone to oxidation, so the fruit is handled protectively and fermented cool in stainless steel to keep it fresh and unoaked, guarding the primary fruit and the variety's distinctive green, herbal bite. It pours pale straw with a green tint and shows lemon, green apple and white peach lifted by a note of dried herbs and citrus peel. The palate is dry, crisp and juicy, with the slightly bitter almond twist on the finish that gives Verdejo its grip and interest. The wine is vegan. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees.