Bibenda

The name Rifugio – refuge – tells of underground hiding places where the inhabitants of Salento once protected themselves from danger. Today, an entire area near Veglie bears this name, where particularly high-quality Primitivo grapes thrive on alluvial, clayey soils with limestone deposits. The traditional Conti Zecca winery, owned by the noble family since the 16th century and one of the icons of Apulia with 320 hectares of vineyards, vinifies this single-varietal Primitivo using tried and tested methods: manual harvesting with selection at the sorting table, gentle destemming and pressing, twelve-day maceration at 25 degrees, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Maturation takes place over twelve months in large oak barrels of 30 hectolitres and in resin-sealed concrete tanks, followed by a short period of maturation in the bottle.

One of the most characterful dry Lambruschi in our range every year. Bright cherry red colour with a brightening rim. A wide-ranging aroma of rhubarb and red apple, with fine floral notes, roses and a finish of wild strawberries and raspberries. Wonderfully fresh and tart flavour with a very juicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The country dance (controdanza) is a typical dance in which man and woman face each other and unite in graceful movements - depending on their gender, the dancers interpret the music in their own way. This wine is exactly the same: Nero d'Aola and Merlot - opposites attract and, with the right sensitivity, can harmonise and contrast wonderfully.

"Il Preliminare" - "The Preliminary Remarks". The names of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines are reminiscent of his father's world as a notary.

A hint of morning freshness: Al Qasar ("The Castle") is the lighter side of Zibibbo, dry, elegant and designed for subtlety. Yellow in colour with a delicate golden shimmer in the glass. The nose opens with charming aromas of orange blossom, peach skin and a hint of elderflower. On the palate, it is clear and fragrant, with lively acidity, a creamy fruit centre and a floral finish that ends in svelteharmony. Al Qasar is an uncomplicated, yet characterful Zibibbo – ideal as an aperitif, with light antipasti or a fine fritto di mare. Elegant, dry and extremely charming. SUPERIORE.DE

Steep slopes, barren limestone, untamed nature – the Monti Garbi above Mezzane di Sotto are not pleasing wine country. When the Castagnedi brothers opened up these rugged heights in 1989, people in eastern Valpolicella were still focussing on quantity. They focussed on character. The grapes are harvested by hand and gently pressed. In October, the young wine undergoes its second birth: re-fermentation on the pomace of the estate's own Amarone – ripasso in the original sense. Malolactic fermentation and ageing in Liters tonneaux lend depth without heaviness. Ruby red in colour, juicy and enveloping, infused with a spicy freshness that owes its signature to the chalky white skeletal soils. Great value! SUPERIORE.DE

A bestseller and classic with a reputation: "Duca Sanfelice" is a flagship for the indigenous Gaglioppo grape variety and demonstrates the expressive wines that can be produced from the sun-kissed hills around Cirò. The Riserva comes from old vines on clayey and calcareous soils, vinified in steel tanks and then matured in stainless steel for 24 months. Deep ruby red in colour. Dark cherry, dried plums, herbs, some liquorice and a hint of tobacco on the nose – spicy and Mediterranean flavours. Dry on the palate, with ripe fruit, pithy tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long, powerful and carried by earthy warmth and fine spice.

A Vermentino with a name that sounds like the sea – and that is precisely its promise: Cala Silente comes from selected vineyards blown by the mistral near the south-west coast of Sardinia. The grapes are harvested early in the morning and matured at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and aromatic clarity. Pale straw yellow in colour. The aroma is distinctive but subtle: white peach, lime and salty minerality, with a hint of Mediterranean herbs and wet stone. Lively and taut on the palate, with fresh acidity, a delicate melt and a long, cool finish – close to the coast and full of character. Cala Silente is an authentic representative of the Sardinian art of white wine: straightforward, aromatically precise and with a salty undertone that is inevitably reminiscent of the sea. If the glass sounds like a fresh breeze over the maquis, then it is probably Cala Silente ... SUPERIORE.DE

This still Muscat, which was conceived as the "little brother" of Torcolato and Acininobili, is a masterpiece and proves once again that Fausto Maculan is one of the world's best producers of dessert wines. Dindarello enchants with a marvellous blend of peach sorbet, kiwi and fresh mint. These aromas accompany the wonderfully full flavour right through to the finish. Its perfect balance between sweetness and acidity will ennoble any meal. SUPERIORE.DE

Mamaioa (Sardinian for "ladybird") is not just a label for Contini, but a symbol of biodiversity and a sensitive understanding of wine. This Vermentino shows how modern and close to nature Sardinia's white wine culture can be, while remaining clear, fresh and convincing. Mamaioa comes from organically cultivated vineyards around Cabras – not far from the salty breeze of the Tyrrhenian Sea and on sandy soils with ancient marine sediment. The grapes are harvested early in the morning and matured exclusively in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and varietal profile.

What began in 2004 as an anniversary wine for the 50th harvest of Salice Salentino – leone de Castris has been producing this Apulian classic since 1954 – has become a firm tradition due to its resounding success. Since then, a new edition of the "50° Vendemmia" has been released every year. A Riserva that shows how Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera find their powerful yet elegant expression on the red soils of Salento. After selective harvest, the blend of 90% Negroamaro and 10% Malvasia Nera di Lecce undergoes an 8 to 12-day maceration at a controlled temperature of 20 to 22 degrees before the wine matures for twelve months in 30-hectolitre oak barrels. A further six months of bottle ageing round off the process.

Karmis, an animating white wine based on Vernaccia, comes from the lower Tirso Valley in the area between Cabras and Baratili - where the climate is typically Mediterranean with mild winters, little rain and very hot, breezy summers. And so its colour is brilliant and deep yellow, the bouquet delicate but persistent with hints of fresh fruit. Soft, full and with good flavour correspondence on the palate. An excellent aperitif and accompaniment to light dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

A Sauvignon that clearly expresses its origin and grape variety – with freshness, tension and precise fruit. Matured exclusively in stainless steel tanks, it is crystal clear and unadulterated, entirely in the house style. Pale straw yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. The nose is typical and pleasantly differentiated: gooseberry, yellowcurrant, green apple, hints of elderflower, lemon zest and a touch of mint. On the palate, the 2024 is lively and juicy, with lively acidity and a focussed, mineral core. The fruit always remains on the cool side, which clearly shows its origins in north-east Friuli. A characterful, easy-drinking Sauvignon Bianco with varietal identity, precision and a finely balanced freshness profile – ideal with antipasti, asparagus, fish or on its own as an elegant aperitif. SUPERIORE.DE

This rosato awakens in the glass with a delicate salmon pink colour, interspersed with a warm coral shimmer. Made from Cannonau and Nieddera, it is grown in the vineyards of the Sinis peninsula and the Terre d'Ossidiana – territories, characterised by volcanic soils and salty coastal winds. The grapes macerate for just a few hours and undergo controlled fermentation at a low temperature. Maturation takes place partly in stainless steel and partly in barriques – a combination that keeps freshness and structure in impressive balance. The nose convinces with a floral mix of rose petals, raspberries and citrus notes, carried by fine herbal spice and a mineral undertone reminiscent of sea air. Citrusy, clear and salty fresh on the palate – the fruit remains present, without sweetness, the acidity is refined, and the finish is long, elegant and with a hint of pink grapefruit.

Above Bolzano, where old gravel paths lead through sun-drenched vineyards, lies the legendary Huck am Bach farm, which gives its name to one of the most authentic red wines in South Tyrol. Between 250 and 500 metres above sea level, the Vernatsch and Lagrein vines that have been at the heart of the St. Magdalener tradition for generations thrive here on mineral-rich gravel soils. The harvest harvest produces grapes that mature in large oak barrels into a wine of enchanting elegance.

The name reveals the secret: in Taglio del Tralcio, the shoot is cut just before the harvest so that the grapes wilt slightly on the vine – a technique reminiscent of Amarone, but used more carefully here. The Aglianico vines grow at an altitude of around 500 metres on volcanic soils at the foot of Monte Vulture. Controlled dehydration concentrates sugar and flavours without sacrificing freshness. After fermentation, the wine matures for six months in oak wood.

Powerful ruby colour. Beautiful interplay between earthy notes, tobacco and dark berry fruit on the nose, finely characterised. Juicy on the palate and on the palate, flows calmly, grippy, well-integrated tannins, fine drinking flow. Much fresher and airier than expected, but still powerful. A harmonious all-rounder with ambition. SUPERIORE.DE

Delicate straw yellow in colour with a silvery shimmer - this Pinot Grigio reflects the elegance of the Colli Orientali in a particularly accessible way. The vines grow on calcareous hillside soils around Cividale, where warm days and cool nights refine the flavour of the grapes. The nose has a clear aroma of white melon, pear, green apple and a hint of acacia blossom. Juicy on the palate, with fresh acidity and a subtle spiciness that testifies to the terroir. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the purity and produces a cheerful, Mediterranean white wine that combines origin and style in charming harmony. A Pinot Grigio that bears the signature of the Sirch family as well as the purism of the region. SUPERIORE.DE