Vermentino Grape variety guide: history, French regions, taste & food pairing
Vermentino is a sunny, aromatic white grape of the western Mediterranean, the signature white of Corsica, Sardinia and Liguria. In Provence and Languedoc the same grape is known as Rolle.
Learn more about Vermentino
History & origins
Its precise origin is debated, with theories pointing to Spain or Liguria, but it has thrived on Mediterranean islands and coasts for centuries. In Corsica, where it is called Vermentinu, it is the island's main white grape and is used in many of its appellation wines. It loves heat, sea breezes and poor, rocky soils, keeping freshness even in hot summers.
French regions & appellations
Patrimonio, Ajaccio, Vin de Corse and Vin de Corse Coteaux du Cap Corse; also Côtes de Provence, Bellet and Languedoc (labeled Rolle). Famous Italian homes include Vermentino di Gallura and Bolgheri.
Taste profile
Medium-bodied with lemon, lime, green apple, white peach, fennel, crushed herbs and a saline, slightly bitter almond finish.
Food pairing
Grilled fish, bouillabaisse, pesto pasta, fritto misto, clams, Corsican brocciu cheese, herb-roasted chicken and Mediterranean vegetables.
Where Vermentino grows in France
Wine regions: Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Rhône
Appellations: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Corbières, Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Côteaux d'Enserune, Côtes de Provence, Côtes du Roussillon, IGP Méditerranée, IGP Pays d'Hérault, IGP Terres du Midi, Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Saint-Guilhem Le Desert, Ventoux