Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC 2024 – Classico Superiore “La Staffa”

Overview

The La Staffa 2024 is the flagship cuvée of La Staffa winery, representing the excellence of Verdicchio from Castelli di Jesi. Produced from an assemblage of vineyards with different exposures and vine ages ranging from 1972 to 2010, located at 350–500 meters above sea level, this wine expresses harmony, freshness, and minerality. Hand-harvested grapes, spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel and cement, and aging on fine lees ensure elegance and aromatic complexity in every bottle.

Vineyard and Terroir

The wine originates from 8 hectares of vineyards in Staffolo, on clay-limestone soils rich in calcium carbonate with a notable saline component typical of Castellaretta/Salmagina. The varying altitudes and exposures allow grapes to develop complex aromas and balanced acidity. The blend of different vineyards produces a wine with harmonious structure, pronounced minerality, and a distinctive, elegant character.

Vinification and Aging

Manual harvesting ensures the selection of the best grapes. After gentle pressing, the must undergoes static decantation and spontaneous fermentation in steel and cement tanks. Aging on fine lees lasts approximately 6 months, followed by another 6 months in bottle. This process enhances freshness, salinity, and overall balance, preserving the Verdicchio’s aromatic purity.

Tasting Notes

La Staffa 2024 shows a bright straw yellow color with greenish reflections. The nose reveals yellow fruit, white flowers, and citrus, complemented by subtle mineral and saline notes. On the palate, it is fresh, harmonious, and savory, with balanced body and elegant persistence. The finish is long and complex, reflecting the assemblage of multiple vineyards and terroirs.

Food Pairings and Aging Potential

Its structure and minerality make La Staffa ideal with seafood, shellfish, seafood risottos, white meats, and medium-aged cheeses. It can be enjoyed young for its vibrancy or aged in the bottle for several years, developing further complexity while maintaining its territorial identity.

Technical Sheet

• Denomination: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC – Classico Superiore

• Variety: 100% Verdicchio

• Vineyard: 8 ha, Staffolo, 350–500 m a.s.l., average vine age 35 years

• Soil: Clay-limestone, high salinity, rich in calcium carbonate

• Harvest: Manual

• Vinification: Gentle pressing, static decantation, spontaneous fermentation in steel and cement

• Aging: 6 months on fine lees + 6 months in bottle

• Alcohol: 12.5–13% vol

• Serving Temperature: 10–12 °C

La Staffa – Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi

The Winery’s Philosophy

The La Staffa winery, located in the heart of the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi appellation, is an organic estate that has become a benchmark in Marche viticulture thanks to its artisanal, rigorous, and terroir-driven production. Founded and passionately managed by Riccardo Baldi, the estate covers twelve hectares of vineyards and represents one of the most authentic and distinctive expressions of Verdicchio. The winery’s mission is to craft wines that are not only excellent in quality but also capable of telling, through aromas and flavors, the story and tradition of the Marche hills.

The Territory of Staffolo

The town of Staffolo, known as the “Balcony of Vallesina,” offers a breathtaking landscape of rolling vineyard-covered hills surrounding the medieval village. Winemaking has been deeply rooted in this area for centuries. According to local legend, the name Staffolo derives from the Greek word Staphilé, meaning grape cluster, a symbol of the land’s inseparable bond with viticulture.

Today, Staffolo is home to just over two thousand inhabitants and about twenty wineries, earning it the nickname “the Hill of Verdicchio.” Within this context, the Baldi family cultivates its vineyards with daily dedication, focusing on Verdicchio as the flagship variety, alongside small plots of Montepulciano, always respecting nature and local biodiversity.

The Vineyards and Soil Characteristics

The La Staffa vineyards are located mainly in Contrada Castellaretta (7 hectares) with additional nearby plots (5 hectares), totaling twelve hectares under vine. The vineyards sit at an altitude of 400 to 500 meters above sea level, ensuring constant ventilation, varied exposures, and significant diurnal temperature swings—all crucial factors for balanced grape ripening and the development of intense, refined aromas.

The soil is predominantly clay-limestone, rich in calcium carbonate, a key element that imparts a distinctive mineral edge and remarkable sapidity to the wines. This unique soil composition, combined with the singular microclimate of Staffolo’s hills, gives La Staffa’s Verdicchio its unmistakable personality: elegant, expressive, and built for longevity.