July's Wine of the Month - Viore 2022 Verdejo, Rueda Spain

We’re featuring the classic Spanish dry white wine Viore Verdejo as our Wine of the Month for July because it hits exactly what summer calls for. It is fresh enough to enjoy cold on a hot day but structured enough to pair with food. Try it with white fish, shrimp, grilled vegetables, lemony salads, or dishes with goat cheese or green olives. Whether you're new to Verdejo or just looking for a bottle that overdelivers, this one is a solid choice.

Viore is the Rueda-based label from Bodegas Riojanas, a historic family-run winery established in 1890. Although they are best known for their red wines from Rioja, this bottle reflects their investment in making fresh, expressive whites in the regions best suited to them. In Rueda, that grape is Verdejo.

The 2022 Viore Verdejo is made entirely from estate-grown fruit in the towns of Rueda and La Seca. More than 80 percent of the grapes come from bush-trained vines that are over 100 years old. Bush-trained vines grow low to the ground without wire supports. They require hand harvesting and produce fewer grapes, but the fruit is often more concentrated and complex. The remaining 20 percent comes from younger vines, between 20 and 40 years old, which are trained on trellises and harvested at night. Night harvesting helps keep the grapes cool, which protects their freshness and aroma.

After a short cold soak to draw out flavor and aroma, the wine is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Once fermentation is complete, the wine rests briefly on its lees. Lees are the tiny particles of yeast left behind after fermentation. Stirring the lees adds texture and body to the wine without needing oak barrels. The final wine is clean, crisp, and focused.

In the glass, it is pale straw in color with green highlights. Aromas include pineapple, citrus peel, white peach, and a touch of fresh herbs. There is also a subtle stony note from the limestone-rich soils. The palate is dry and medium-bodied, with bright acidity and a slightly bitter edge on the finish, typical of Verdejo. Lees contact adds a gentle roundness to the texture, keeping it from feeling too sharp.