Introduction:
The 2024 ColleStefano Verdicchio di Matelica from the Marche region is a vibrant and expressive white wine that captures the elegance of the Verdicchio grape in its high-altitude Matelica home. With the producer’s pedigree and farming ethos behind it, this wine presents freshness, precision, and a mineral core that makes it both immediately enjoyable and worthy of short-term aging.

Terrior:
Produced by the estate ColleStefano in the Matelica sub-zone of the Marche, the vineyards sit at roughly 420 m above sea level and are planted on soils composed of sand, loam, and clay with a rich limestone base. The cooler nights at elevation preserve acidity and aromatic lift, while the limestone-rich substrate gives a distinct mineral thread through the wine. The site has been managed organically since 1995, reinforcing the purity of expression.

Appearance:
In the glass, the 2024 presents a bright pale straw colour with subtle green-tinged highlights. The clarity and vibrancy reflect a fresh, upright style rather than heavy extraction.

Nose:
The aromatic profile opens with white flowers, golden apple, Bosc pear, and a touch of quince. Notes of wet stone, sea-breeze minerality, and a hint of green herbaceousness (fern, anise-blossom) appear, giving a layered bouquet of freshness, minerality, and mild herbal lift.

Palate:
Medium-lean in body with vibrant acidity, the wine offers flavours of citrus (lime zest, lemon), orchard fruit (pear, white peach), and saline/mineral undertones. The texture is crisp and clean, with a steely backbone and a slightly chalky finish. It shows more body than some earlier vintages yet retains the hallmark vitality of Matelica Verdicchio.

Finish:
The finish is impressively long and fresh, balancing floral and fruit notes with a persistent mineral/saline edge. Subtle green pepper and chalky dryness lend energy to the wine's closing notes.

Overall Impression:
This 2024 ColleStefano Verdicchio di Matelica stands out for its combination of freshness, minerality, and sincerity of style. It remains crisp and energetic—ideal for near-term enjoyment—but has enough substance to develop further complexity over the next several years. For lovers of bright wines with personality and place, this is a standout selection.

Recommended Food Pairings:
Meat Dish: Pan-seared sea bass with lemon-thyme butter or chicken breast in a light citrus-herb sauce.
Vegetarian Option: Spring vegetable risotto with peas and mint, or grilled asparagus with shaved Parmigiano and a drizzle of olive oil.
Cheese / Charcuterie Pairing: Fresh chèvre or ricotta salata paired with marinated artichoke hearts and a light herb flatbread; or mild pecorino with a drizzle of local honey and green olives.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 13.5%
Farming Practices: Certified organic production (since 1995), hand-harvested vines, massal selection, sustainable viticulture
Producer Name: ColleStefano
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Italy
Region: Marche – Verdicchio di Matelica DOC
Grape Varietals: Verdicchio (100%)
Vintage: 2024
Wine Style: White, Medium-bodied, Unoaked (steel-aged)
Winemaking Techniques: Free-run must, cool fermentation in stainless steel, short ageing on lees (~4 months “sur lie”), no malolactic fermentation, minimal intervention
Pack Size: 750 mL
Container Style: Standard wine bottle
Closure Style: Natural cork