“Askos” Verdeca del Salento IGT 2025

Masseria Li Veli | Puglia
Masseria Li Veli | S.P. Cellino-Campi, Km 1 | IT 72020 Cellino S. Marco

15170225 · 0,75 l · 19,87 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Verdeca is a grape variety that hardly anyone knows – and that is no coincidence. For centuries, it was used as the base material for vermouth, was rarely vinified as a single variety and was considered too unspectacular for its own bottle. Yet its history is an ancient one: Greek in origin, it probably arrived in Apulia with the first settlers and became native to the sandy limestone soils of Salento. Masseria Li Veli has given it a stage with the Askos project – and the wine critics have responded. Askos Verdeca is the only Apulian white wine ever to be honoured by Gambero Rosso with its Tre Bicchieri.

The Askos project is named after a Greek wine container from the 1st century BC – a conscious commitment to history. The Verdeca vines grow on sandy, calcareous Salento soils, are over twenty years old, spur pruned and harvest at the beginning of September. Fermentation takes place at 11 to 15°C in steel tanks – gently, cool, focussing on freshness and varietal typicity. No wood, no intervention.

Bright green gold colour in the glass. The nose is intense and full of character: salty notes up front, followed by ripe citrus fruit, a hint of tropical fruit, fresh herbs and the typical Mediterranean macchia spice. Full-bodied and harmonious on the palate, with a lively acidity and a mineral note that characterises the long, saline finish.
A white Apulian that proves what forgotten varieties can do when given time and conviction – if you give them time and conviction. SUPERIORE.DE