Petit Verdot

Also known as: Verdot (Bordeaux), Petit Verdau (historical)

In Bordeaux, Petit Verdot is traditionally used as a small seasoning in blends – a few per cent for colour, structure and a certain wildness. Few estates dare to make a single-varietal wine from it, as the grape needs heat and a long ripening period, otherwise it remains green and harsh.

In southern Spain, at Habla in Extremadura, it is made into concentrated, almost black wines. But in Tuscany too, Col d'Orcia shows that it can hold its own beyond the classic Bordeaux role – if given the right place.