The Verdea grape is an autochthonous white variety primarily cultivated in Lombardy, though its origins likely trace back to Tuscany. The name Verdea is believed to derive from the Latin word “viridis” (green), referencing either the greenish color of its berries or the greenish reflections in the wine. In 1937, Dalmasso noted a reference by Francesco Sacchetti, a 14th-century novelist, to a grape called Sancolombana, which he hypothesized to be Verdea.

Another legend attributes its introduction to the Irish monk Saint Columbanus, who is said to have brought the grape to Milan while spreading Christianity among the barbarian-plagued lands, teaching the cultivation of vines to the people of the Colle region. The variety has indeed achieved its greatest spread in the province of Piacenza and the Lombard provinces of Milan and Pavia, particularly in the area of the San Colombano DOC.

Verdea is still found in Tuscany—where it is known as Colombana—and has been cited as early as the 14th century. Its suitability for drying in fruit chambers makes it a favored grape for producing sweet wines, which are sometimes made from 100% Verdea.