Pizzini Verduzzo 2024

Verduzzo is a grape variety that hails from Italy, best known in the northern Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions. Intensely aromatic, it’s like bowing your head into a bouquet of mixed blooms. There’s roses, lilies and wildflowers mixed with the herbaceous lift of sprigs of foliage. Then the fruit joins in – white peaches and a hint of passionfruit gives way to Campari and the saline freshness of a day spent preserving lemons. In the mouth it has the dense silkiness of quality Chardonnay, but more savoury and without the sweet oak spice. Grapefruit wedges and just-ripe apricots meld with more of that enticing salinity; while a peppery spice hints at freshly picked rocket. Add food and that savoury peppery note sings – pair with spinach and ricotta filled conchiglioni (those decadent jumbo seashells), baked in vibrant homemade passata and oregano.