The grapes are oval and green-skinned, with a glossy sheen. Verdelho is the chief grape variety used to make several types of fortified Portuguese wine commonly referred to as Madeira. The wine styles may range from a varietal dry white which is consumed as a stand-alone aperitif, to a sweet dessert wine.

The history of Verdelho goes back to the 15th century when the vine was planted and cultivated on the small island of Madeira. Verdelho has also gained a foothold in Australia's Hunter Valley. It is also grown in the Galicia region of Spain, where it answers to the slightly different name of "Verdello".

Compared with other grape varieties in Madeira wines, Verdelho is noticeably fruitier in taste when young, but gains much acidity when aged. In the Australian version, it may be a full-flavored unoaked white that is noted as a good food match. The Portuguese version is known to be sweeter.

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