Verdeca 'Messapia' Leone De Castris 2025

The Verdeca “Messapia” is a white wine that champions the enhancement of indigenous Apulian grape varieties. Verdeca is indeed the most cultivated white grape variety in the entire region, and Leone de Castris, an important production reality of the territory, presents it with a precise and concrete version, highlighted by a vinification exclusively in steel that allows appreciation of its most authentic traits. The aromas on the nose range from citrus to floral, leading to a fresh and mineral sip.

This “Messapia” is a Apulian white wine made from pure Verdeca grapes, an indigenous Apulian variety among the most widespread within the regional borders. The vines grow using the spurred cordon system, in vineyards characterized by a predominantly clayey and loamy subsoil. The manual harvest is carried out by the Leone de Castris winery at the end of August, and after pressing the grapes, a brief cold maceration is performed. The must ferments in steel tanks at a controlled temperature between 14 and 16 degrees. The subsequent refinement takes place in steel and the wine remains on the fine lees for a period of three months.

The “Messapia” Verdeca develops in the glass with a typically straw-yellow color, crossed by some greener flashes at the rim. Subtle and enticing on the nose, where more fruity notes are followed by hints of aromatic herbs and floral references. On the palate, it is light-bodied, sleek, and easy-drinking, with a sip that flows easily thanks to a nice freshness, from which a more savory vein also emerges. A label signed by the Leone de Castris winery that pairs well with fish-based preparations, as well as with appetizers and fresh cheeses: to stay in Apulia, there’s nothing better than sipping it with a delicate burrata.