What Verdicchio di Matelica is
Verdicchio di Matelica is a white wine from the Marche, made around the town of Matelica in the province of Macerata. The production rules ask for at least 85 percent Verdicchio grapes. The rest, up to 15 percent, may come from other suitable white varieties of the region.
You do not need to be an expert to visit. It helps to know that wineries are spread between the town and the hills, that many work by appointment and that you should decide who drives before you go. This page is an independent guide and does not speak for any consortium or producer.
DOC and DOCG: two different appellations
They are separate protections, not two names for the same wine.
| Appellation | Recognized | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Verdicchio di Matelica DOC | Decree of 21 July 1967 | At least 85 percent Verdicchio, at most 15 percent other suitable white varieties of the Marche |
| Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva DOCG | Decree of 18 February 2010 | In an older version of the rules, at least 18 months of aging counted from 1 December of the harvest year |
Not every bottle of Verdicchio di Matelica is a Riserva DOCG. The production rules are being amended, so read the label and ask at the winery how long the wine you are tasting was aged.
Our picks: wine tastings
The tasting in Matelica, plus two winery visits in other parts of the Marche.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Wine tasting and vineyard ride in a vintage dune buggy
Four wines with local cheese and specialities and the estate's own olive oil, plus a ride through vineyards and village with the winemaker at the wheel. You do not drive yourself, and the wine production is not part of the visit.
Check availability →
Winery visit and tasting in Numana near Ancona
A tour of the winery, barrel cellar and vineyard, then three wines with a cold-cut and cheese platter and bruschetta. The winery is outside the Matelica area, and transport there is not included.
Check availability →Verdicchio di Matelica tasting with a cellar visit
A guided cellar visit and a tasting of three wines with grissini or taralli. Further glasses beyond the tasting are not included.
Check availability →Wine tastings and day trips in the Marche
Wineries, caves and hill towns around Matelica, with current prices and availability.
Where it grows: the Matelica basin
The production area covers parts of Matelica, Esanatoglia, Gagliole, Castelraimondo, Camerino and Pioraco in the province of Macerata, and of Cerreto d'Esi and Fabriano in the province of Ancona.
Figures for the vineyard area differ. The consortium gives 410 hectares in its introductory text and 381.68 hectares of claimed vineyards in its 2025 statistics. These are two different measures and should not be treated as one number.
To get a sense of the surroundings, see the page on towns near Matelica. Camerino and Fabriano, named above, each have an old town of their own.
Matelica or Castelli di Jesi: what is the difference
These are two Verdicchio zones with different conditions.
| Aspect | Verdicchio di Matelica | Castelli di Jesi |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Inland basin running north to south | A different growing area, closer to the sea |
| Shelter from the sea | The San Vicino range shields it from maritime influence | Stronger influence of the sea |
| Climate according to the consortium | More continental, with large swings between day and night | – |
None of this adds up to a ranking. The two areas differ and each has its followers. If you want the mountain behind the vineyards, read the page on Monte San Vicino.
Verdicchio di Matelica or just Matelica?
The name of the appellation may change.
A procedure is under way to amend the DOC and call it simply "Matelica", with "Matelica Riserva" for the Riserva. A proposed amendment was published in November 2025, and the ministry then ordered the application to be forwarded to the European Union authorities in Brussels.
At the same time, a decree of 7 October 2026, published on 16 October 2026 in the Gazzetta Ufficiale, still uses the names "Verdicchio di Matelica" and "Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva". For now the current name stays in use. In the coming years you may see either one on a label.
Wineries in Matelica: how to plan a visit
Three wineries that publish contact details or visit offers. This is not a ranking or a buying recommendation.
Cantine Belisario
At Via Merloni 12 in Matelica. It offers a cellar visit and, on request, a tasting with local products. You book through the winery's contact form or by phone at +39 0737 787247. Ask for the price when you book.
Villa Collepere
A country house and winery in the Collepere area. It offers tastings in the villa with its own wines and local products, and suites if you want to stay. Hours and prices for tastings are agreed directly.
Borgo Paglianetto
At Località Pagliano 393, phone +39 0737 85465. Its website lists contact details and business hours. To find out whether a tasting is possible and on what terms, call ahead.
A practical rule: always book. A winery that works by appointment is not a shop with fixed hours, and your host needs to know when you arrive.
Drink responsibly
A tasting works fine with very little driving.
Choose a driver
If you travel as two or more, decide beforehand who does not taste. Samples add up. The driver does not drink, not even a little.
Sleep nearby
Villa Collepere offers suites. Other options are on the page where to stay in Matelica.
Getting to Matelica
Train, car and airport details are on the page how to get to Matelica.
Verdicchio di Matelica: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DOC and DOCG?
They are two protected designations of origin with their own rules. The Verdicchio di Matelica DOC was recognized in 1967 and the Riserva DOCG in 2010. Not every bottle of Verdicchio is a Riserva DOCG.
How much Verdicchio is in the wine?
For the DOC the production rules state at least 85 percent Verdicchio. The remainder, up to 15 percent, may come from other suitable white varieties of the Marche.
Do I need to book a tasting?
Yes, it is always sensible. The wineries publish contact details and phone numbers, not public opening hours. Call or write first and ask about the price as well.
How much does a tasting cost?
Ask the winery for the price when you book, and what is included and how long the visit lasts.
Will Verdicchio di Matelica change its name?
A procedure exists to rename the DOC "Matelica". In mid-October 2026, official acts still use the current name. Until a final decision, rely on the label.
Can I visit wineries without a car?
Ask the winery how to get there and decide beforehand who drives. If you want to taste in peace, stay in the area. The page on where to stay lists options.