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Grape variety : Vermentino

1603 Blanc

1603 Blanc

Château de Sannes Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur
€14.00
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1603 Rosé

1603 Rosé

Château de Sannes Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur
€13.00
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Aciana Rosé

Aciana Rosé

Château de Sannes Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur
€19.50
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Bulle de Blanc

Bulle de Blanc

Château Nestuby Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur
€12.00
CARTA BIANCA

CARTA BIANCA

Domaine San Gavino Corse
€25.00
Caudios Blanc

Caudios Blanc

Château d Agel Languedoc Roussillon
€17.00
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Chai Mas Blanc

Chai Mas Blanc

Château Paul Mas - Domaines Paul Mas Languedoc Roussillon
€7.90
Cigalus red

Cigalus red

Domaine Gérard Bertrand Languedoc Roussillon
€37.00
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Cuvée DIVINE

Cuvée DIVINE

Domaine de Canta Rainette Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur
€15.00
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Vermentino: origins and particularities of this grape variety

While Vermentino is a white grape variety mainly grown in Italy, it is also the source of great white wines in the south of France. Better known as Rolle in Provence or Vermentinu in Corsica, Vermentino is particularly appreciated for its ability to produce deep and elegant white wines.

In short, a white grape variety to (re)discover urgently! Find in this guide everything you need to know about Vermentino through its history, its aromatic particularities and its appellations. Also discover in this article, all our advice for making the best food and wine pairings with dry white wine made from Vermentino.

Vermentino at a glance

  • Color: white grape, also used in rosé blends
  • Origin: Mediterranean grape from the Malvoisie family; known as Rolle in Provence and Vermentinu in Corsica
  • Regions: Italy; in France a star of Corsica (Patrimonio AOC, Île de Beauté IGP), Provence (as Rolle) and the Languedoc-Roussillon
  • Profile: fresh, floral and citrusy dry whites with a saline touch and naturally low acidity
  • Serving temperature: 8 to 10 °C
  • Cellaring: best enjoyed young, while the wines are fresh

Description and origins of Vermentino

Vermentino is a Mediterranean white grape variety from Malvoisie. Although its origins are still debated, the most likely hypothesis is that Vermentino appeared in Italy after being brought back from Greece (probably by Venetian merchants). In any case, Vermentino has now conquered part of the Mediterranean coasts (Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon) as well as some of its islands (notably Corsica and Sardinia). Since Vermentino is a late-ripening grape variety, it needs a warm and dry climate to develop properly. Indeed, fearing powdery mildew and humidity, Vermentino has not taken root in other terroirs, with cold or temperate climates. Even if its intrinsic qualities rank it among the best Mediterranean white grape varieties, its low acidity encourages tasting white wines made from Vermentino, most often in their youth.

The main terroirs where Vermentino is grown in France

Outside of France, Vermentino is mainly found in Italy, where it produces a classy dry white wine and a few rare sweet wines. In France, Vermentino is the flagship grape variety of the Corsican vineyard and in particular of the AOC Patrimonio appellation. It is also on the terroirs of the Isle of Beauty that Vermentino reveals its full potential and complexity. Preferring hot and dry regions (as well as less fertile soils), Vermentino also thrives in other vineyards in the south of France such as Provence (where it is called rolle) or, more recently, in Languedoc-Roussillon.

Aromatic characteristics of Vermentino

Often vinified as a single grape variety in Corsica, particularly in the emblematic AOC Patrimonio appellation, Vermentino is more often blended with other white or even red grape varieties when it produces rosé wine. This is particularly the case in Provence or Languedoc-Roussillon, where it brings its creamy texture and delicate aromatic palette to white and rosé wines.

Characteristics of Vermentino in dry white wine:

Appearance: Pale yellow color.

Nose: On the nose, Vermentino develops fine and complex aromas of flowers (hawthorn, lime), fennel, almond and peach.

Palate: Low in acidity, Vermentino produces white wine that is both tender and smooth on the palate. Its complexity and length make it one of the greatest white grape varieties in the Mediterranean.

The best food and wine pairings with Vermentino

Discover our tips for making the best food and wine pairings with dry white wine made with Vermentino:

  • With a bouillabaisse or aioli, go for a regional food and wine pairing with a bottle of dry white wine from an AOC Coteaux-d’aix-en-Provence, AOC Bellet or AOC Coteaux-varois-en-Provence estate. Blended with other white grape varieties such as Grenache Blanc, Clairette or Ugni Blanc, Rolle (as it is called in Provence), brings to its appellations all its aromas of white flowers, iodine and fennel. An ideal partner for your fish recipes.
  • To enhance a scallop risotto or chicken curry, turn to a bottle of more opulent Corsican Vermentino from an AOC Patrimonio or IGP Île de Beauté estate. Vinified as a single grape variety, Corsican Vermentino offers dry white wines with complex aromas of hawthorn and almond, as well as a superb texture in the mouth.
  • Finally, if you want to discover another side of Vermentino, let yourself be tempted by a rosé wine composed of a blend of red grape varieties and Vermentino. To do this, opt for a rosé from an AOC Côtes-de-Provence or Languedoc-Roussillon estate. With its pale pink color and notes of grapefruit, flowers and exotic fruits, these vintages will work wonders as an aperitif or on a barbecue.

Have you deepened your knowledge of Vermentino by tasting a small bottle? On Avenue des vins, we offer white wine, red wine, rosé wine and champagne directly from the estate or chateau of your choice. Each estate and chateau is selected with the greatest care and our wines are available for delivery

Rolle in Provence, Vermentinu in Corsica: one grape, several names

One of the particularities of Vermentino is that it travels under several names. In Corsica it is known as Vermentinu and stars in the island’s appellations, in particular AOC Patrimonio, while in Provence the very same grape is called Rolle, where it lends its white-flower and fennel aromas to the region’s dry whites and rosés. The variety is also planted across the Languedoc-Roussillon, on the warm, dry Mediterranean soils it favors. Whatever the name on the label, Vermentino, Vermentinu and Rolle are one and the same variety, and all share that fresh, floral and citrusy profile with its characteristic saline touch.

Serving Vermentino at the right temperature

Vermentino gives fresh, floral and citrusy dry whites with a saline touch, so it is at its best served well chilled. A temperature of around 8 to 10 °C keeps the wine lively, highlights its citrus and white-flower aromas and lets that saline note come through on the finish. Because the grape is naturally low in acidity, serving it a little too warm can make it feel heavy and flat, whereas a good chill preserves its freshness. Like most dry white wines, a Vermentino served at the right temperature makes an ideal aperitif and a fine partner for Mediterranean fish and seafood.

Frequently asked questions about Vermentino

What is Vermentino wine?

Vermentino is a Mediterranean white grape that produces fresh, floral and citrusy dry white wines with a characteristic saline touch. It is grown mainly in Corsica, where it is known as Vermentinu, in Provence, where it goes by the name Rolle, and across the Languedoc.

What does Vermentino taste like?

Vermentino gives dry white wines that are fresh, floral and citrusy, with a saline touch on the finish. On the nose it shows aromas of white flowers, fennel, almond and peach, and its naturally low acidity makes the palate tender and smooth.

What is Vermentino called in Provence and Corsica?

In Provence, Vermentino is known as Rolle, while in Corsica it is called Vermentinu. It is the same grape variety in both cases, giving fresh, saline Mediterranean whites.

What temperature should you serve Vermentino?

Vermentino is best served well chilled, at around 8 to 10 °C. At this temperature its citrus and white-flower aromas and its saline freshness show at their best, whereas serving it too warm makes it feel heavy.