Fifth Verdo

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Fifth verdo / Petit verdot / is a red wine grape variety, which is typical mainly in France, and in particular in the area of the port city of Bordeaux. However, the pleasant wines produced from the variety cause it to be grown in many other places around the world.

To date, the fifth verdo is found in Italy, Spain, Chile, New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, USA (modest massifs are found in Colodaro, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Washington and Northern California), Venezuela, South Africa and others. Fifth verdo is a variety known by many names. It is called Petit Verdot Noir, Heran, Bouton, Lambrusquet Noir, Verdot Rouge and others.

Like all grape varieties fifth verdo has distinctive features. The leaves of this variety are light green, pentagonal, with triangular teeth. The cluster is small to medium, not particularly tight, reminiscent of a cylinder or cone. The grains are rather small. They are rounded, painted in dark blue to red. They are covered with a thick wax coating. The flesh of the fifth verdo is pleasant to the taste, watery, releasing whitish juice. The meat is covered with thick skin. The content of acids and sugar is satisfactory.

As it has already become clear, the variety is grown in many places around the world, but in general in the largest vineyards can be seen in France. To some extent, this is due to the fact that the variety ripens later than other varieties such as cheese, senzo and pinot noir, for example. In the fifth verdo ripening occurs in the fall, after the second week of September.

Very often, however, the variety does not ripen well. There is a belief among winemakers that it matures only once every five years. These vines are characterized by medium growth and relatively low yields. Their disadvantage is also that they do not always manage to fight the oidium. The leaves attacked by powdery mildew are covered with spots with a grayish coating. They are damaged and thus remain on the vines.

History of the fifth verdo

It's considered that fifth verdo is something of a precursor to varieties such as sauvignon, as well as those grown in Bordeaux, but its origin is not entirely clear. There is evidence that in the eighteenth century the variety was already known to the French.

However, experts suggest that this variety, as well as others, were brought by the Romans from the interior of the Mediterranean. Fifth verdo wine was once very common, but at some point it was replaced by Bordeaux wines. Nowadays, however, this type of wine has started to be appreciated again.

Characteristics of the fifth verdo

Consumption of wines obtained from fifth verdo, is a real delight for the senses. This type of grape elixir is characterized by a dense, deep red color in which you can immerse yourself. They are also high in tannins and alcohol. When drinking, you feel aristocracy caused by the specific spicy tones. Fifth verdo is a wine in which very rarely other varieties are not present.

Some producers allow blending with grapes of other varieties up to 20 percent. Bordeaux blended wines are often used. Nevertheless, the fifth verdo has a strong profile, which over time is further strengthened.

Prolonged aging has a good effect on the tannin drink and it acquires an even stronger aroma. Wines made with fifth verdo carry the aroma of French or American barrels in which they have been left to age. The aging lasted at least eighteen months.

Serving the fifth verdo

Fifth verdo is a wine that needs a lot of attention. It must be cooled before serving. The recommended temperature can vary, but is usually between 14 and 18 degrees. It depends mainly on the age of the wine and is indicated by the producers on the label.

Experts recommend drinking it about thirty minutes after opening the bottle. It is also desirable to decant immediately before spilling. When getting wine from the fifth verdo, know that it is not an aperitif drink. This grape elixir should be combined with a suitable dish that harmonizes its taste and reveals its best qualities.

Fortunately, it can be combined with different types of food, so the choice largely depends on you and your own preferences. However, we can not fail to note that according to gourmets the most appetizing is the combination between fifth verdo and dishes with game such as deer, rabbit, wild duck, partridge, quail.

However, finding such a delicacy is not so easy, so you can stop at dishes with chicken and turkey. If you prefer heavier meats, choose beef or veal. Try cooking roast beef, rustic beef and stewed beef. It is also not bad for meats to be accompanied by appetizing sauces.

If you are a fan of vegetarian cuisine, you will also find something to combine fifth verdo, as most of the cheeses suit his wine. You will certainly not regret it if you choose to consume the wine drink in the company of Stilton.

If you have decided to combine fifth verdo with some sweet temptation, rest assured that all chocolate desserts suit him. It's up to you whether you choose a cake, cupcake, roll, pie or other dessert.