2022 Cambrugiano Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva, Cantine Belisario

• Style: Pale gold, stone fruit with mineral spine
• Taste: Honey, vanilla from oak aging, crisp acidity, real body
• Food: Grilled white fish, seafood pasta, shellfish, salads, sushi
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, aperitivo
• Serve: Chilled, 13.5% ABV, Riserva-aged

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This bone-dry Verdicchio opens pale gold and unfolds with stone fruit depth, honey, and vanilla notes drawn from careful oak aging. A stony, mineral spine keeps everything honest. There's real body here without weight, and crisp acidity refreshes the palate between sips—the kind of glass that makes grilled white fish or creamy seafood pasta taste better.

The Winery — Cantine Belisario

A 300-hectare cooperative in Marche's Matelica zone, Cantine Belisario tends 24 organically farmed vineyards where Verdicchio is the only permitted grape. The continental climate—warm days and cool nights in the Apennine foothills—stretches the growing season and keeps acidity high. The 2022 vintage was extreme, concentrating flavours in smaller bunches. Planted on well-drained hillside soils at 400 metres with the local Matelicese clone, the fruit delivered ripe, layered character. The wine then aged two years in a blend of stainless steel and toasted oak (95% and 5%), adding subtle vanilla and honey layers without overwhelming the grape's natural character.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Built for the table, this Riserva pairs beautifully with grilled white fish, creamy seafood pasta, antipasti, and cured fish. It suits shellfish and crustaceans, light salads, vegetarian dishes, and even sushi and raw fish. Chill it slightly and give it time to open in the glass to reveal layers you won't find in lighter examples. James Suckling's 92-point score recognises how Belisario has balanced ripeness with freshness. Explore our Light & Crispy White Wine selection—this sits perfectly alongside, offering the crisp mineral edge expected from northern Italy, but with the body and aging potential that mark it as something special.