Bibenda

A wine that communicates its authenticity with unaffected elegance: Antigua is a harmonious liaison of 85% Monica and 15% Carignano – grapes that ripen on limestone and clay-rich soils in the lowlands of Sulcis. The warm, dry climate gives them depth and aromatic substance, while the cool sea breeze adds finesse and freshness. After the harvest, a traditional maceration with pump-ups takes place and the wine then matures in cement tanks to preserve its originality.

A Nero d'Avola with style and everyday suitability, vinified from vines in the province of Caltanissetta (on Lago di Disueri), where clay and limestone soils and large temperature differences between day and night ensure aromatic depth. Rich ruby red colour with a purple rim in the glass. Aromas of ripe cherries, blueberries, dried herbs and a hint of liquorice. Soft and fruity on the palate, with gentle tannins, lively freshness and good drinkability. The ageing in stainless steel maintains clarity and varietal typicity. A very typical and cleanly vinified Nero d'Avola with a Mediterranean character – ideal with pasta, braised vegetables or grilled meat. SUPERIORE.DE

Pure Montepulciano from the San Lorenzo vineyard: garnet red in colour with almost black reflections. Sweet autumnal spices, mint and cedar wood on the nose before revealing its core of medicinal cherry. Silky and smooth on the palate, it delights with its ripe red and blue fruits, while the tannins slowly build up towards the end. In the long and lightly structured final, notes of tangerine mingle with blueberry peel and chalky minerals. San Lorenzo is incredibly pretty and has a beautiful harmony and balance. SUPERIORE.DE

According to Aristotle, the ancient clones of the Greco vine originate from Tessaglia. The most famous of these is the "Aminea Gemina Maior", from which this wine is made. Straw yellow in colour with a greenish tinge, it promises freshness and lightness. A fruity bouquet unfolds on the nose: peach, apricot, citrus fruit and a delicate hint of white flowers – all elegant and inviting. Dry, smooth and balanced on the palate: harmonious fruit, fine acidity and a mineral finish that makes you want to savour the next sip. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the varietal style and aromatic clarity. 100% Greco, organically grown in Molise – a rare and charming grape variety with an expressive character. Note: There is also serious Greco outside Campania. SUPERIORE.DE

This Montepulciano from the hills of Abruzzo has a classic style and is aged in large oak barrels. Deep ruby red colour with a purple rim. Dark cherries, stewed plums, dried herbs, a hint of leather and fine spice on the nose. Round on the palate, with ripe fruit, polished tannins, well-integrated acidity and a harmonious, spicy finish. A wine full of character and at the same time accessible with a beautiful regional expression – down-to-earth, honest and wonderfully compatible. SUPERIORE.DE

The dense, well-articulated Rigoleto made predominantly from organically grown Sangiovese grapes is extremely drinkable. The bouquet beguiles with beautiful aromas of dried plums and dark cherries. Opens with a lively bouquet of wild strawberries, rhubarb, violets and crushed stones. Silky to the touch, Rigoleto has impressive weight yet wonderful energy as a wave of ripe red and blue fruit swirls under the scent of lavender and spice. SUPERIORE.DE

The lily in the name is no coincidence: Flordelis – fleur-de-lis – refers to the coat of arms of the Hohenstaufen family, to whom the winery owes its name. The Rosato comes from a six-hectare vineyard in Maschito at an altitude of 550 metres and shows the modern side of Aglianico. After brief contact with the skins, the noblest must is drawn off by saignée as soon as the typical coral colour is reached. This is followed by cold decanting like a white wine and fermentation at low temperatures with selected yeasts.

Here comes plenty of backbone and maturity: Montetinello comes from older vines on slopes near Monteprandone. Montepulciano and Sangiovese are vinified separately and matured for several months in large wooden barrels – a step that adds structure and complexity. Deep ruby red in the glass with a slight garnet hue. Dark cherry, wild berries, tobacco, laurel and a hint of cedar on the nose. Juicy on the palate, with ripe fruit, a noticeable, well-integrated tannin structure and a fine spicy finish. Balanced, warm and well-structured – a classic Rosso Piceno Superiore with sophistication and depth. SUPERIORE.DE

A wine of contrasts: Müller-Thurgau (70%) and Gewürztraminer (30%) – typically Nordic grape varieties – find a surprisingly ideal terroir on the slopes of the extinct volcano Monte Vulture. Founded in 1998, the Terre degli Svevi winery near Venosa, named after the Hohenstaufen dynasty and their king Manfred, utilises the volcanic soils and the strong day-night fluctuations to fully exploit the aromatic properties of these varieties. The grapes are harvested by hand at the beginning of September, left briefly on the skins and fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel. Two months of ageing on the lees round off the wine.

Salice Salentino is one of the oldest denominazioni in Apulia, recognised in 1976, and is still synonymous with the power of Negroamaro today. The Conti Zecca family, based in Leverano since 1580, cultivate the Tenuta Cantalupi here with its calcareous, iron oxide-rich soils. For the Riserva, 80% Negroamaro and 20% Malvasia Nera are matured in wooden barrels. Deep ruby red in the glass with the first garnet reflections. The bouquet opens with red berries, cloves and a hint of forest floor. Soft and harmonious on the palate, with a dense body, well-integrated tannins and a warm, lingering final. Classic Salice Salentino in its most mature form – structured, but never heavy. SUPERIORE.DE

A Nero d'Avola with southern warmth and fine depth: Gazzerotta presents itself with a clear presence and elegant expression. The wine comes from sunny vineyards around Mazara del Vallo, characterised by clayey and chalky soil, which gives it a juicy fruit and earthy minerality. Intense ruby red in colour. The aromas intertwine ripe berries, cherry and plum with a seductive spicy note, tamed by floral traces of violets and a hint of honey. Soft, warm and round on the palate. Balanced tannins, juicy fruit and a lingering spicy finish round off the profile. Medium-bodied and well-balanced, ideal with pasta al forno or spicy ragouts. SUPERIORE.DE

Arnaldo Caprai bottled his first wine in 1973 – a Montefalco Rosso made from Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Merlot. This Rosso was the beginning, the foundation stone for everything that was to follow: the rebirth of Sagrantino, the conquest of international wine critics, the transformation of a forgotten Umbrian village into a Mecca of wine tourism. Half a century later, this wine still carries the DNA of that vision – earthy, authentic, accessible. The extremely popular cuvée made from seventy per cent Sangiovese, fifteen per cent Sagrantino and fifteen per cent Merlot grows on the hills of Montefalco on limestone-clay soils.

With 100% Carignano in the glass, Cardanera is a true wine of character – pure, honest and with Sardinian soul. The grapes ripen in the stony, sandy soils of south-west Sardinia under the warm sun and salty sea breeze. After careful hand-picking, the wine is fermented spontaneously and matures for a few months in cement tanks – a combination that preserves depth of flavour and freshness at the same time.

The name sounds familiar, but Araja opens a new chapter in Sardinian red wine culture: a fruity, focussed expression of Sulcis. The cuvée consists of 85% Carignano and 15% Sangiovese (!) and is produced on the red, sandy soils around the coastal area of Porto Pino. Here, the salty sea air characterises the grapes, while the chalky terraces provide structure. After careful fermentation, the wine matures in temperature-controlled stainless steel to preserve its expressiveness.

A wine with style and substance: Pregio del Conte combines Montepulciano and other local grape varieties from organic cultivation in the estate's best locations. The wine is matured partly in large wooden barrels and partly in barriques – a step that gives the wine depth and structure. Dense ruby red colour with a violet core in the glass. Blackcurrant, cherry, pipe tobacco, herbal spice and a hint of dark chocolate on the nose. Powerful but well-balanced on the palate: ripe tannins, dark fruit, finely dosed wood spice and an elegant length. Pregio del Conte is concentrated and harmonious, with a classic ageing profile and modern appeal – a wine with inner tension and beautiful versatility. SUPERIORE.DE