Red grapeSommo grape guide

Vertzami

Vertzami wine guide: what this red grape tastes like, where it comes from, the regions that grow it, and what to eat with it.

Colour
Red
Body
Full
Origin
Greece
Top region
Ionian Islands
3
Key regions
3
Pairings
9
Synonyms

Vertzami is a red grape variety, and it traces back to Lefkas, Greece.

Structurally it lands at full body, high tannin, high acidity, dry and high alcohol.

Look for berry, bay-leaf and cinnamon.

The regions that matter for it are Ionian Islands, Peloponnese and Central Greece.

In the vineyard it is marked by early ripening and a preference for calcareous soils.

It blends readily with other Greek varieties.

Watch for the synonyms: Lefkas, Vertsami, Bertzami and Matzavi.

At the table it suits veal stew with onions (stifatho), five-spice braised bison and confit duck with sweet potato mash.

The structure.

Body
Full
Tannin
High
Acidity
High
Sweetness
Dry
Alcohol
High
Flavours
berrybay-leafcinnamon
Aromas
berrybay-leafcinnamon
Styles
dry redfull-bodied red

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 veal stew with onions (stifatho)
02 five-spice braised bison
03 confit duck with sweet potato mash

Also labelled.

Lefkas, Vertsami, Bertzami, Matzavi, Martzavi, Varzami Marzemina, Balsamina Nera, Lefkada, Lefkaditiko.

Bottles to look for.

  • Markogianni Winery 'Diagon', Peloponnese, Greece
  • Siflogo Brousko Vertzami PGI Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece
  • Siflogo Keropatis Vertzami PGI Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece

Vertzami: common questions

01.
What does Vertzami taste like?
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Vertzami tastes of berry, bay-leaf and cinnamon. Structurally it lands at full body, high tannin, high acidity, dry and high alcohol.
02.
Where is Vertzami from?
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Vertzami originates in Lefkas, Greece.
03.
Where is Vertzami grown?
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The key regions for Vertzami are Ionian Islands, Peloponnese and Central Greece.
04.
What food pairs with Vertzami?
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Pour it with veal stew with onions (stifatho), five-spice braised bison and confit duck with sweet potato mash.
05.
What else is Vertzami called?
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Vertzami is also labelled Lefkas, Vertsami, Bertzami, Matzavi and Martzavi, plus four more.

Keep going: the A to Z grape index, or the wine regions of Greece.

Grapes in the app

Scan a Vertzami,
see what is in your glass.

Sommo reads the label, names the grape and the region, and files the tasting note where you will find it again.