August 8th is Officially National Verdelho Day

 

If you’ve been following Tulloch Wines recently, you’ll know we’ve been championing one clear message: Verdelho deserves a day.

To celebrate this iconic Hunter Valley varietal, we launched Verdelho Week, running from August 2–8, and culminating on August 8th, which we have officially declared as Verdelho Day.

Our mission was simple: to honour Verdelho’s history, celebrate its future, and cement August 8th (8/8) as National Verdelho Day – a date dedicated to the grape that has shaped Tulloch Wines since 1895.

 

Verdelho Deserves A Day Campaign

'Verdelho Deserves A Day' was a Tulloch Wines campaign designed to showcase Verdelho’s legacy through storytelling, local partnerships, and community involvement. Leading up to Verdelho Day on August 8th, we engaged wine lovers with seven days of content, events, and education about this historically significant varietal.

 

Campaign Highlights:

Bottle Through the Ages: A video reel showcasing Tulloch Verdelho labels over more than 100 years, ending with a teaser of our 2025 commemorative release.

Sign Tour & Verdelho Man: Our “Verdelho Deserves a Day” sign toured the Hunter Valley – iconic landmarks, our cellar door, and even local radio – alongside Verdelho Man, now a fan favourite of the campaign.

Local Legends: Renowned Hunter Valley chefs and winemakers shared their favourite Verdelho pairings and voiced their support for National Verdelho Day.

Grape History Carousel: An educational post tracing Verdelho’s journey from its Portuguese origins to its Hunter Valley home.

Polls & Petition: Online and in-person polls asking “Should there be a National Verdelho Day?” drew over 300+ votes, overwhelmingly in favour.

 

The Response:

The support for National Verdelho Day (August 8th) was overwhelming:

47,000+ total impressions across social media

25,000+ video reel views celebrating Verdelho

1,000+ engagements (likes, shares, comments, saves)

Dozens of messages echoing one sentiment: “Verdelho does deserve a day.”

 

Why August 8th?

August 8th (8/8) is now officially Verdelho Day for several reasons:

It’s Jay Tulloch’s Birthday

Our very own J.Y.T- one of the region’s greatest champions of Verdelho - was born on 8/8. Known across the Hunter (and the country) as Mr. Verdelho, Jay was instrumental in re-establishing the variety as a serious wine, not just a blending grape. His passion, knowledge, and persistence helped cement Verdelho as a standalone varietal of significance in Australia.

To mark his birthday with a day dedicated to the grape he loved. That’s more than fitting - it’s perfect.

It’s Symbolic

8/8 feels eternal - two looping figures representing continuity, legacy, and evolution. That’s the story of Verdelho at Tulloch. It’s been part of our story since 1895, and it’s still going strong. 

It also mirrors the nature of Verdelho itself - a grape that keeps coming full circle, from fortified beginnings to fresh, vibrant styles loved today. 8/8 is more than a date; it’s a symbol of everything Verdelho represents: timelessness, resilience, and reinvention.

It’s Missing from the Calendar

We’ve got a national day for Rosé. For Shiraz. Even Grenache is getting airtime. And yet, Verdelho - with its crisp acidity, food-friendliness, and Hunter roots - remains overlooked. This is a gap in the wine calendar we’re proudly filling.

For a grape that’s been part of Australian wine for nearly 200 years, it’s long past time it had its moment. Declaring August 8th as Verdelho Day is our way of giving it the recognition it deserves - once a year, every year, from here on out.

 

A Little Verdelho History

Verdelho is a white grape originally from Portugal’s Madeira and Azores regions. It made its way to Australia in the early 1800s and found its most natural home in the Hunter Valley.

Known for its bright acidity, tropical notes, and vibrant personality, it was once a workhorse blending grape - until wineries like ours started treating it with the attention and respect it deserves.

Tulloch Wines has been producing Verdelho since the early 1900s. In fact, our original Verdelho was made not for retail but for family and friends - a local favourite long before it was commercially bottled. It’s now one of our flagship wines and a core part of our legacy.

Check out our "The Story of Tulloch Verdelho"  blog for a deeper dive into the history of Verdelho and our story with it.

 

What’s Next for Verdelho Day?

This is only the beginning. Each year, on August 8th, we’ll continue to celebrate National Verdelho Day with new stories, events, and releases that honour this grape’s place in Hunter Valley history and Australian wine culture.

 

Verdelho isn’t just a wine - it’s a symbol of connection, heritage, and community.


Mark your calendar: August 8th is Verdelho Day. Pour it. Celebrate it. Share it.

 

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