The white grape variety originates from Portugal or Spain. Synonyms are Agodello, Agodenho, Agudanho, Agudelha, Agudelho, Agudelo, Agudello, Agudenho, Cumbrao, Esperó de Gall (also synonymous with the variety Epero de Gall), Gouveio (further main name), Gouveo Branco, Verdelho, Verdelho Branco, Verdelho de Madeira, Verdelho do Dão (Portugal); Agodello, Berdello, Godelho, Godella, Godenho, Ojo de Gallo, Prieto Picudo Blanco, Trincadente (Spain). The old variety probably originates from the banks of the river Río Sil in Galicia, in the northwest of Spain. However, it was first mentioned in 1531 by the ampelographer Rui Fernandes under the names Agudelho and Trincadente in the Portuguese Douro.
Confusingly, the variety is grown under different names, often with other varieties with similar names in Spain and Portugal. Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities, it should not be confused with the varieties Folha de Figueira (Prieto Picudo Blanco), Gouveio Real (Agodello), Verdejo, Verdello or Verdelho. According to DNA analyses, the Portuguese varieties Gouveio, the red-berried Gouveio Roxo mutated from it and the Verdelho (Verdelho do Dão) in the Dão area are identical. The latter, however, must not be confused with the "real" Verdelho in Madeira. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2013, Gouveio (Godello) is the result of a presumably natural cross between Savagnin Blanc (Traminer) x Castellana Blanca. However, this is based on only 20 DNA markers (see molecular genetics). It is a parent of the varieties Donzelinho Branco, Donzelinho Roxo, Donzelinho Tinto and Tinta Bragao.
This early-maturing, high-yielding vine has berries rich in sugar, is susceptible to powdery mildew and botrytis and somewhat less sensitive to downy mildew. It is excellent for dry sites. The variety produces straw-yellow, acid-emphasised and rather low-alcohol wines with a delicate, fruity aroma of green apples and apricots, which also have ageing potential with appropriate ageing. The variety was on the verge of extinction in Spain in the 1970s with only a few hundred vines left, but was successfully revived.
It is mainly cultivated in Galicia in the DO area of Valdeorras, as well as in the areas of Bierzo, Monterrei, Ribeira Sacra and Ribeiro on 822 hectares with a strong upward trend. In Portugal, it is grown (partly under the name Verdelho) in the Douro and Dão areas on 584 hectares. A tiny stand of Godello with 0.5 hectares also exists in Brazil. In 2016, a total of 1,406 hectares of vines were reported under the name Godello (Kym Anderson statistics).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012.
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
