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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

Elisabetta Geppetti is more than just a winemaker – she is the "Signora del Morellino", the energetic woman who took over the reins of the family winery at the age of just 20 and helped the Maremma region to achieve international renown. When she pressed the first Morellino in 1985, she laid the foundations for a success story that continues to this day. This wine is the quantitative and qualitative calling card of Le Pupille – a constant, authentic expression of the terroir between Pereta and Magliano in Tuscany. The Morellino combines Sangiovese (90%) with Alicante and the autochthonous Ciliegiolo (5% each) from vineyards exposed to the south-west at an altitude of 50 to 250 metres. The vines, some of which are over 40 years old, are rooted in skeleton-rich, clayey and ferrous soils, cooled by sea breezes and strengthened by pronounced day-night temperature differences. After the harvest at the end of September, the must ferments on the skins for 15 days and matures for eight months, mainly in stainless steel tanks with a small proportion in used barriques.

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 wine that tells in every facet where it comes from – that is Contado Riserva. Made from 100% Aglianico from organically farmed slopes of the Ramitello vineyard in Molise (Contrada Camarda), it shows the potential of this robust grape variety and the special region. The soil is calcareous with clay and sand, giving the wine mineral depth and vigour. The late harvest is followed by a long maceration period, after which the wine matures for a total of around three years: partly in barriques and tonneaux, partly in stainless steel tanks, and finally with extended bottle ageing. This careful ageing philosophy gives the wine complexity, elegance and a fine power of integration in every vintage.

The vines are planted where the Piedmont slopes gently at Canelli and the Barbera grape can develop its depth. The name is reminiscent of Cesare Pavese, the great son of these hills – and his most famous work "La Luna e i Falò". Like the novel, this wine also carries a quiet melancholy, paired with expression, maturity and identity. Matured in barriques and large casks for around a year, this is a Barbera full of character and at the same time modern.

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

In his book "Native Wine Grapes of Italy", Italy expert and wine critic Ian D'Agata writes about the grape variety: "Verdicchio is arguably Italy's greatest indigenous white grape variety. This statement may come as a surprise to those who have so far only tasted bland or watery Verdicchio wines, which have sometimes even been bottled in incredible, amphora-shaped bottles."

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.

In the 1980s, Luigi Baudana planted Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc on his slopes in Serralunga d'Alba – at a time when white wine had no great tradition in the Langhe. That took courage. This is precisely why the wine is now called Dragon and bears the dragon by illustrator Gianni Gallo on the label: a symbol of courage that the Vajra family incorporated into its own history after taking over the Baudana estate. Today, the Dragon is no longer a simple Bianco. Nascetta – the most fascinating indigenous white wine variety of the Langhe, rescued and cultivated by Vajra – gives the blend its unmistakable character. A touch of Riesling: the signature of an estate that sees curiosity as an attitude. Fermentation and ageing in steel for approx. 6 months.

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.

The classic from the heart of Chianti Classico: Brolio combines the excellent drinkability of a young Chianti Classico with a complex, complete structure. The vineyards grow on the historic Castello di Brolio between 280 and 480 metres above sea level on five representative soil types – from sandstone to galestro and marine sediments. Intense ruby red colour. Fresh, floral nose with notes of chinotto, violets and mimosa, leading to fruity nuances of black cherries and sweet mint. Velvety and complex on the palate with great harmony, elegant structure and a long, mineral final. A textbook Chianti Classico from a historic terroir. SUPERIORE.DE