We love this Italian classic, and some others do too! If you're a fan of crisp, fresh, mineral, food-friendly whites then this one is a must-have!
‘Italy's best-buy of all time? Unbelievable quality for the price. Mineral zestiness, almond flowers, green apple and chlorophyll notes you won't forget. You can tell owner Fabio Marchionni studied white wine in Germany.’ Decanter - 93 pts/100
‘Tre Bicchieri’ Winner 2008 and 2009.
Slow Food Vino Slow: 2010, 2011 and 2012.
“This extraordinary white wine scours every taste bud on the tongue with electrifying acidity. How refreshing to taste a wine unmellowed by malo. Fabio’s Verdicchio is a pale yellow wine with greenish tones and a delicate scent of country herbs and apple; its taste, whose structure is not intrusive, has a fresh lime trace which makes this wine particularly fragrant, and the kind of pervasive acidity previously mentioned will allow your tongue to pass through the eye of the needle and enter the kingdom of oysters with an appetite for destruction.” Doug Wregg
" Readers looking for a tasty Verdicchio that won’t break the bank should consider this Verdicchio di Matelica from Colle Stefano. This bright, high-toned white reveals well-defined aromatics and plenty of crisp, zesty fruit. The wine is best enjoyed while it remains fresh and vibrant" Wine Advocate
'I drank a lot of Italian white wines this year. They are versatile, delicious, great values and go with a lot of what I like to cook, especially in the spring and summer.
Many of them I had enjoyed for years, but this verdicchio from Matelica in the Marche region of Italy was new to me. Most verdicchios I see are from Castelli di Jesi, Matelica’s neighbor on the Adriatic coast, and they can be excellent. But the wines from Matelica, farther inland and higher in elevation, caught my attention, particularly this one from ColleStefano.
It was full of energy and electrifying acidity, yet it was not lean or skeletal. It offered plenty of texture and flavor, floral with a crushed seashell minerality. It was far from the only Italian white I enjoyed, but it made a lasting impression.' Eric Asimov, NY Times, Wines to remember in a year to forget - Dec. 2020
COLLE STEFANO, Matelica - Certified Organic
Collestefano is located in Matellica, a small appellation (420 metres above sea level) near the mountain town of Castelraimondo on the border with Umbria. It is a family affair that has been making wine from organic grapes since 1995. Fabio Marchionni is in charge and he is strict in his application of organic techniques.
They use no chemicals in the vineyards, use cover crops to aerate the soil, and a general natural approach to farming. The grapes are hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, and then fermented at low temperatures on the lees. The best part is that the family has kept prices low on purpose so that everyone can enjoy their wines.
Fabio is often cited as one of Italy’s most exciting new winemakers.