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An Aglianico with character and origin: "Cappellaccio" comes from calcareous soils at an altitude of around 300 metres, near the Castello di Federico II - the namesake of the DOC. The 2018 vintage was balanced and allowed for a late, selective harvest. Ageing in barriques and large wooden barrels for 12 months gives the wine structure and maturity. Dense ruby colour with a garnet-red rim in the glass. Black cherry, dried plum, liquorice, balsamic herbs and a hint of tobacco on the nose. Concentrated on the palate, with pithy tannins, dark spice and mineral freshness. A powerful yet surprisingly precise Aglianico from the chalky slopes of northern Murgia - a masculine wine with depth and potential.

Caricagiola is a red grape variety grown primarily in Sardinia and Corsica. It is particularly widespread in the Sardinian region of Gallura, where it thrives in the region's unique climatic and soil conditions. However, its close resemblance to the black Vermentino Nero grape suggests that it may also originate from Liguria. Another theory regarding its origins links it to the southern Portuguese grape variety Mourvèdre Nero, or Bonvendro, which was formerly considered a specific biotype of the Mourvèdre variety common in southern France and Spain.

Rosé di Morgante is made exclusively from Nero d'Avola grapes and comes from the higher-altitude vineyards around Grotte, near Agrigento. The sparse, limestone-rich soils lend it freshness and structure, whilst the sunny yet well-ventilated microclimate ensures optimal aroma development. Ageing in stainless steel preserves the fruit and precision. In the glass, it displays a delicate salmon-pink colour with coppery glints. On the nose, redcurrant, rosehip, a hint of blood orange and delicate floral notes. On the palate, it is lively, with vibrant acidity, elegant fruit and a salty, mineral undertone. Dry, crisp and very well-balanced, with a fine finish.

Intense and pure fruit bouquet. Lively on the palate with beautiful blackberry components and hints of the origin of clay and limestone soils. Well-knit tannins guide this refined and full-bodied cuvée into a thoroughly respectable finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Ramitello is unjustly overshadowed by Contado. Yet it is a potential favourite red wine that perfectly embodies the intensity of southern Molise. Made from 80% Montepulciano and 20% Aglianico, Ramitello matures for around 18 months, partly in barriques and partly in stainless steel tanks, followed by around six months of bottle ageing. In the glass, it has a deep ruby colour with violet reflections. The bouquet is brooding and complex: ripe plum and blackberry combine with spicy notes of leather, liquorice, eucalyptus and a hint of coffee. The palate shows excellent balance: dense fruit, structured, grippy tannins and a long, fruit-accentuated finish that is characterised by tension and naturalness. This wine epitomises the authentic power of Molise – unaffected, terroir-precise and at the same time impressively harmonious. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep, dark ruby red with a garnet red centre. The aroma is warm and complex: black cherry, dried plums, a pinch of tobacco and balsamic notes, underpinned by a hint of liquorice and toast. Powerful and well-structured on the palate, with dense tannins and a ripe, almost velvety texture. The ageing in barriques adds depth without overpowering the fruit. Negroamaro in this Riserva form shows its full potential: independent, complex and with elegant maturity. An authentic representative of the DOC Leverano, characterised by the warm climate of Salento and the craftsmanship of Conti Zecca. SUPERIORE.DE

Intense ruby red with a sparkling centre. Suculé immediately shows that it wants to be more than a classic Barbera. The fragrance caresses the senses with ripe sour cherry, blackberry, rose petals and a fine hint of vanilla – a complex, inviting bouquet. Velvety and dense on the palate and perfectly balanced: juicy red fruit meets a harmonious structure, a supporting sweetness and a subtle hint of minerality on the finish. Maturation for 18 months in barriques ensures velvety depth and length. A powerful but elegantly interwoven Barbera with format and accessibility. SUPERIORE.DE

Gregory Perrucci has given Primitivo di Manduria back its dignity. When he founded the Felline winery in 1992, Primitivo was still a mass-produced commodity for tanker exports – cheap blended wine without prestige. Perrucci recognised the potential of the grape variety and began to systematically investigate the terroirs around Manduria. With his Accademia dei Racemi, founded in 1996, he became a pioneer in the valorisation of indigenous Apulian varieties. Today, Felline is considered a reference for Primitivo di Manduria – thanks to its work on different types of soil (terra rossa, white earth, black earth, sand) and its uncompromising focus on quality. This basic Primitivo comes from different plots of the 120 hectares of vineyards, which are organically farmed. Hand-picked, vinified separately according to soil type, matured for six months in French barriques – a classic interpretation of the variety.

Dark, almost impenetrable ruby red colour with violet reflections. The aroma combines ripe black cherry, blackberry and cassis with fine notes of liquorice, dark chocolate and a spicy hint of pepper. A gentle smokiness from the ageing in barriques frames the multi-layered bouquet. Full-bodied on the palate, with juicy fruit fullness and velvety embedded tannins. The cuvée of Barbera, Merlot, Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon combines power and elegance, while the fresh acidity ensures balance. The long, spicy finish makes you want to savour the next sip. A modern Langhe Rosso full of character that skilfully combines international grape varieties with a Piedmontese heart. SUPERIORE.DE

An elegant journey to Lake Garda: Rosa dei Frati blends the region’s typical grape varieties – Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese and Barbera – into a harmonious cuvée. In the glass, a delicate salmon pink with a subtle orange sheen. On the nose, a delicate interplay of summer berries, raspberry, redcurrant and elderflower, underpinned by a hint of almond blossom and green apple. Fresh and lively on the palate, supported by crisp acidity, juicy fruit and a subtle salty minerality. The dry, structured final is long and inviting. A stylish rosé that goes down a treat – ideal for light summer dishes, antipasti or simply as a lively aperitif. SUPERIORE.DE

The "Kretzer" is South Tyrol's most traditional rosé. It is produced on calcareous loam soils at altitudes of between 260 and 380 metres from the quintessential indigenous "Königsrebe" grape variety. The name "Kretzer" derives from medieval winemaking practices – the "Kretze", a woven wicker basket, was once used to separate the must from the grape skins. This historic rosé wine tradition is continued today using state-of-the-art winery technology: the Lagrein grapes undergo traditional rosé vinification at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks, with brief skin contact giving the wine its characteristic salmon-pink colour.

The name says it all: Grillo means cricket – and in Sicilian folk tales, the cricket is the fairies' horse that carries them through the night on its back. "Cavallo delle Fate" therefore – the fairy horse. A wine that takes its name seriously: light at first glance, but with an energy that carries. Grillo is one of the oldest grape varieties in Sicily, a cross between Catarratto and Zibibbo, long known primarily for Marsala. In Regaleali, it grows on the hills of Sant'Anna and Piana Case Vecchie, 480 metres above sea level, facing south-east, in deep loamy, slightly calcareous soils. Tasca deliberately plays with two harvest times: Some of the grapes are harvested earlier – for freshness and minerality – the rest later, for body and structure. No wood, no malolactic fermentation, four months of maturation on the lees in steel tanks. Cool, precise, with respect for a grape variety that needs no disguise.

Monti in Chianti, on the southern tip of the Chianti Classico region, seven kilometres south of Gaiole. Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi has been cultivating the same slopes here for generations – the family's history dates back to the Lombard era, and its winemaking tradition is almost as old. The estate has been certified organic since 2010. The Rosato is made from the same Sangiovese vineyards that also supply the grapes for the Chianti Classico and the Gran Selezione San Marcellino. Hand-harvested, with a short maceration period of 40 to 50 minutes, must clarification at low temperature, around one month's fermentation in stainless steel tanks, followed by three to four months sur lie. The result is not a light summer rosé, but a Rosato with substance: lively acidity, salinity and subtle minerality.

Non Confunditur – "not to be confused with": the family motto on the Argiano coat of arms also encapsulates the ethos of this wine. Founded in 1580, the estate is one of the founding members of the Brunello Consortium and has been cultivating its 60 hectares organically since 2018. The NC blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese from the estate's younger vines – a "Junior Super Tuscan", as cellar master Bernardino Sani calls it. Vinification in stainless steel and used barriques preserves the fruit's freshness.

Giravolta – a name with a history. This was the name of the racehorse that once galloped across the Pozzopalo stud farm and always turned round abruptly in front of the old tuff quarry. This "U-turn" gave the wine its name, but it is the terra bianca, the white earth, that characterises it. While the basic Primitivo comes from the Terra Rossa, the Giravolta grows on calcareous, white soil, created by the breaking up of limestone. The tuffy, stony composition ensures rapid water drainage, but the porous stones also store moisture for the roots.

In 2019, UNESCO declared the Prosecco hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene a World Heritage Site. Not because of the wine – but because of the landscape that produces it: steep moraine slopes, stepped in terraces, calcareous soil with marl and clay, lapped by a breeze from the Adriatic Sea. Villa Sandi cultivates over eighty hectares of its own land in this World Heritage area – and for decades has been one of the addresses that have secured Prosecco's reputation as a serious sparkling wine. 100% Glera, hand-picked, pneumatic pressing. Fermentation at a controlled 15–16 °C according to the Charmat method – gentle, flavour-preserving, typical of the region. The Millesimato is a promise of quality: The grapes from one vintage are so good that they do not need to be blended across vintages – they stand on their own every year.

Prugnolo Gentile – is the name given to Sangiovese in Montepulciano. And mammolo simply means violet in Italian. Anyone who knows the aromas of this wine will understand why the Corradi-De Ferrari family uses both: 85% Prugnolo Gentile for freshness and fruit, 15% Mammolo for the floral perfume that makes this Rosso unmistakable. Boscarelli has been producing Prugnolo as Rosso di Montepulciano since 1989 – from the youngest, most fragrant vines in the Cervognano cru vineyard at 280 to 350 metres, on calcareous alluvial soil with sand, silt and clay. Organic cultivation. Hand-picked in crates, selection at the sorting table, natural yeast fermentation in steel, 6 months maturation in glazed cement tanks.

In the heart of Bolgheri, where Marilisa Allegrini and her late brother Walter realised their Tuscan dream in 2001, an ancient tradition is being revived. Cassiopea takes its name from the constellation that shines brightly above the 70-hectare Poggio al Tesoro estate – a cosmic 'W' for Walter or 'M' for Marilisa, depending on your perspective in the night sky over the Costa Toscana. This elegant rosé hails from the prestigious Le Sondraie vineyard, which was once leased to Ornellaia and now forms the heart of the Allegrini vision. The 'soprastrada' site, situated east of the famous Strada Bolgherese, is regarded as the highest-quality area in Bolgheri. Here, where the Seggio stream has carried minerals from the nearby hills for centuries, complex soils of sand, clay and pebbles with a high magnesium content create ideal conditions for both grape varieties.

A dry Zibibbo (Moscato from Alexandria) from the island of Pantelleria, grown at altitudes of around 300 metres on iron-rich soils of volcanic origin. Isesi is delicately floral, with aromas of honeysuckle and perfumed star jasmine, which is aptly known in Italy as Sicilian jasmine. On the palate, it is dry and well-balanced, with just the right amount of softness, freshness and lightness that make this high-quality white wine so incredibly charming and delicate. SUPERIORE.DE

A single-vineyard Soave as it should be: pure Garganega from vines over thirty years old on volcanic soils in Colognola ai Colli. The Castagnedi brothers press the whole grapes under nitrogen and use dry ice to preserve the aromas even before fermentation – a technique that demands precision and rewards character. Six months on the fine lees give the wine depth without taking away its freshness.