Falstaff

A single-varietal Montepulciano Rosato. Delicate aromas of peach and strawberry. On the palate, it is crisp and lively, with a rich array of flavours typical of the variety, whilst remaining light and fresh. A spirited and cheerful wine, perfect for lively afternoons on the terrace or paired with light Mediterranean dishes and fish. SUPERIORE.DE

Cantina Santadi in the Sulcis region is regarded as one of Italy"s finest wine cooperatives – and this Vermentino shows why. The grapes (85% Vermentino, 15% Nuragus) come from five municipalities in south-western Sardinia, where sandy loam soils and a Mediterranean climate create ideal conditions. Hand-picking, gentle pressing, temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and brief ageing on the lees preserve the wine"s freshness and aromatic character.

Cerasuolo – the name is derived from "cerasa", meaning cherry, and also describes the vibrant colour of this rosé made from 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. The Di Properzio brothers have been producing it in Spoltore, near Pescara, since 1990: hand-harvested, 18 hours' maceration, followed by saignée and slow fermentation at a low temperature in stainless steel. No oak, no frills – just the grape variety and the terroir. Cherry red in the glass, with fresh sour cherry, strawberry and a hint of pomegranate on the nose. On the palate, lively acidity, a juicy mouthfeel and a salty minerality that recalls its proximity to the Adriatic Sea. Not a pale terrace rosé, but a wine with backbone – and one of Italy’s often-underestimated rosati. SUPERIORE.DE

A delicate salmon pink with a coppery sheen – a rosé of subtle elegance. On the nose, redcurrants, rosehip, pink grapefruit and a hint of herb-scented hay. On the palate, the indigenous Bombino Nero grape reveals fresh acidity, delicate fruit notes and a salty minerality. Ageing in stainless steel tanks preserves its clarity and finesse. "Pungirosa" is a wonderful Castel del Monte DOCG rosé – light-footed, yet far from insubstantial. A wine with character that skilfully translates the freshness of the limestone slopes into the glass and sets new standards every year. SUPERIORE.DE

A rosato that carries the light of Sicily within it. The Frappato grape variety, known for its fragrant elegance, brings a lot of finesse and lightness to the glass, especially in rosé format. Grown on sandy, calcareous soils near Trapani and Marsala, the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve its fresh, fruity character. Delicate salmon pink colour with copper reflections. Smells of wild strawberries, pink grapefruit and a hint of hibiscus. Juicy and clear on the palate, with lively acidity, a delicate fruity flavour and a finely salty finish. A Mediterranean rosato with a fine finish – ideal as an aperitif or with antipasti, seafood and light summer cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

Keya is the impressive result of several years of experimental work, and the outcome is a rosé made from 50-year-old vines that perfectly expresses the style and character of the Rizzardi vineyards in the hills above Bardolino. The label pays homage to the Venetian heritage of Countess M. C. Loredan, who ran the estate for many years and played a key role in establishing Chiaretto Bardolino as a much-loved classic wine of the region. The name is derived from the first two syllables of Chi-a-ret-to (KEY-A).

This single-varietal Grillo comes from vineyards near the coast around Marsala, whose salty soils and proximity to the sea lend the wine its fresh, mineral-driven character. Pale straw yellow with a greenish sheen. On the nose, it offers notes of white peach, star fruit, lemon zest and sage, with a hint of sea breeze. On the palate, it is dry, with lively acidity, crisp fruit and a salty edge. The finish is unpretentious, fresh and elegant. A typical Sicilian wine with lovely character – authentic, crisp and Mediterranean. Perfect with grilled fish, marinated seafood or summer vegetable dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Neré comes from organic cultivation on volcanic soils near Noto, where the vines benefit from cool breezes and intense sunlight – a terroir that balances ripeness and freshness. Rich ruby-violet colour, very clear and intense bouquet with strong notes of dark fruit and a hint of violets. Juicy, fresh with lots of ripe berry fruit on the palate. Round, supple and dense with a fruity, savoury final, serve chilled. SUPERIORE.DE

Castel del Monte Bombino Nero is Italy's only DOCG designation reserved exclusively for rosé wines – made from at least 90% of the indigenous Bombino Nero grape. The vineyards lie at an altitude of 400–500 metres around Castel del Monte, the octagonal Staufer castle built by Frederick II, whose mysterious geometry inspired the Torrevento logo. Limestone karst soils, Mediterranean sunshine and a constant sea breeze from 13 kilometres away – ideal conditions for a grape variety that withstands heat, retains its freshness and always remains light and direct on the palate. Gentle pressing, controlled temperature, four months' ageing in stainless steel.

Gròttolo means "little grotto". A fitting name for an estate whose cellars are dug deep into the rock – four levels, designed according to the principles of Edoardo Milesi’s bio-architecture. No pumps, just gravity. Down there, where the temperature remains constant and time passes differently, this Rosato also matures. Sangiovese, gently pressed, short maceration at cool temperatures, stainless steel – this is how Montecucco’s most important grape variety is transformed into a rosé that expresses the character of the terroir in a different colour.

Brigaldara's Valpolicella is mainly made from Corvina and Corvinone grapes. The timing of the harvest is very important for this wine, so that its flavours are very delicate and its sensory balance is influenced by the precisely measured acidity. It expresses the characteristic flavours of the valley: from cherries to spicy notes, which are more or less pronounced depending on the vintage. Its beautiful and radiant balance is achieved by a short maturation in steel, which perfectly enhances its sensory characteristics. 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 vineyards are situated 15 metres above sea level, facing west, on soils composed of river sediment with a sandy texture. The coastal sunshine shines through in the radiant straw-yellow hues of this wine. The fresh bouquet offers notes of lemon and freshly cut green apples, along with hints of mint and sage; these Mediterranean impressions are also reflected on the palate. A delicious, lingering and highly versatile Vermentino from western Tuscany. SUPERIORE.DE

In the local dialect, "Melacce" means "apple orchard". Anyone familiar with the Collemassari vineyards will understand the choice: those windswept slopes near Cinigiano, where the Tyrrhenian Sea greets every breeze and bestows upon the grapes a salty freshness that no winery in the world can replicate. The vineyards lie at 320 metres; the sea is thirty kilometres away – close enough to taste. 100% Vermentino, temperature-controlled ageing in stainless steel. No oak, no intervention – everything that happens here takes place in the vineyard.

1943: General Charles Poletti, responsible for supplying the Allies in southern Italy, ordered five bottles of Rosato – with an American accent. And so Five Roses became Italy’s first bottled rosato. Over eighty years later, it is still here, still true to itself. Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, hand-harvested in early September, cold maceration at 10°C, gentle juice extraction, fermentation in stainless steel.

Merì – which, in the Sardinian dialect, symbolises the evening sky – is a Vermentino that brings pure, Mediterranean elegance to the glass. The grapes come from the limestone-rich hills around Selegas, which are swept by the winds from the Gulf of Palma. After being harvested by hand, the grapes are cooled whilst still in the vineyard to preserve the varietal aromas. Fermentation and ageing take place exclusively in stainless-steel tanks, carried out with precision and clarity, and with a focus on freshness.

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

What began in 2004 as a commemorative wine to mark the 50th harvest of Salice Salentino – Leone de Castris has been producing this Apulian classic since 1954 – became an established tradition thanks to its resounding success. Since then, a new vintage of the "50° Vendemmia" has been released every year. A Riserva that demonstrates how Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera find their powerful yet elegant expression on the red soils of Salento. 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 following selective harvest, before the wine is aged for twelve months in 30-hectolitre oak barrels. A further six months of bottle ageing round off the wine's development.

For a long time, Nero di Troia was Northern Apulia's well-kept secret – used in blends, but rarely as a single variety. Torrevento changed that in 1993: the Vigna Pedale was the world's first single-varietal Nero di Troia. Since then, it has been the estate's flagship wine – and, right up to the current 2019 vintage, has left Gambero Rosso with no choice but to award it the highest rating eight times in a row.

A Vermentino with a name that evokes the sea – and that is precisely what it promises: Cala Silente comes from selected vineyards swept by the Mistral near the south-west coast of Sardinia. The grapes are harvested early in the morning and vinified in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks to preserve freshness and aromatic clarity. Pale straw yellow. The nose is distinctive yet delicate: white peach, lime and salty minerality, complemented by a hint of Mediterranean herbs and wet stone. Lively and taut on the palate, with fresh acidity, a delicate creaminess and a long, cool finish – coastal and full of character. Cala Silente is an authentic example of Sardinian white wine-making: unpretentious, aromatically precise and with a salty undertone that inevitably evokes the sea. If the glass sounds like a fresh breeze sweeping across the macchia, then it must be Cala Silente ... SUPERIORE.DE

This traditional cuvée is a delight even in its youth. Made from exceptional grapes, it reveals the ripe fruit and richness of the three classic vineyards. A deep ruby-garnet colour with violet highlights. A full bouquet of dusty violets and roses, evolving into spiced confectionery and crushed cherries. On the palate, fresh cherries, mixed herbs and undergrowth emerge – all well-balanced – lending the wine a lightness and, at the same time, a complexity that keeps you coming back for more. SUPERIORE.DE