0.75 liter

Whilst Andreola's Rive wines each bring a single vineyard to the glass, the Dirupo tells a different story: that of the entire Denominazione. For this Brut, Stefano Pola draws on the privilege of a network of vineyards stretching across all 15 municipalities of the Valdobbiadene DOCG – from gentle slopes at 200 metres to the extremely steep slopes at 500 metres, on calcareous marl, sandstone, conglomerates and deep clay soils. No other wine from the estate reflects the territory so fully. The choice of grape varieties underlines this approach: 90% Glera, complemented by Bianchetta and Perera – two indigenous varieties of the hills that have long since disappeared from standard Prosecco and which, as quiet contributors here, enrich the aromatic depth.

Rhine Riesling in South Tyrol? What sounds unusual at first glance makes perfect sense in the valley floor around Kurtinig. The loose, well-aerated sandy soils with calcareous gravel offer ideal conditions for the demanding Rheinriesling. The microclimate does the rest: the warm afternoon wind from Lake Garda alternates with cool morning breezes from the north, ensuring constant ventilation from April to October. The grapes undergo a 6–8-hour cold maceration before pressing – a process that releases the fine fruit flavours from the skins. Fermentation takes place at a controlled 19 °C in stainless steel.

The aromatic soul of South Tyrol. Gewürztraminer is considered the most typical of all South Tyrolean white wines – full-bodied and unmistakably aromatic. At Peter Zemmer, this grape variety grows on low-growing rootstock in the Guyot system, in the best vineyard sites on the valley floor around Kurtinig at 220–230 metres above sea level. The favourable location, ideal sunshine and good aeration of the grapes create ideal conditions for this demanding variety. After destemming, a six to eight-hour cold maceration follows, which transfers the valuable flavours from the skins into the must and intensifies the characteristic bouquet. Gentle pressing and subsequent fermentation at a controlled temperature of 19 °C in stainless steel preserve the varietal aromas in all their splendour.

Arneis – once almost extinct, today Piedmont's white pride. The Poggio di Caro comes from the heart of the Roero: the 20 to 25-year-old vines are rooted in the characteristic sandy soils around Canale, where Enrico Serafino has been at home since 1878. After being harvested by hand, the grapes are cooled with carbonic acid snow and undergo a 12 to 15-hour cold maceration before being gently fermented in stainless steel. Three months of bottle ageing round off the wine.

450 metres above sea level, on stony limestone soils around Tramin and Montan: this is where Sauvignon Blanc finds those striking day-night fluctuations that make its aromatic intensity possible in the first place. The mild, sunny climate of Bassa Atesina ensures optimum ripeness, while cool nights preserve the flavours. In the cellar, the grapes undergo an 8–10-hour cold maceration – longer than the other white wines from the estate –to release the full flavour potential from the skins. After gentle pressing and natural sedimentation, the must ferments at 19 °C in stainless steel.

Harmonious, velvety Pinot Noir from vineyards at an altitude of around 450 metres. These hills with special conglomerate soils of clay and limestone and the very suitable microclimate form the ideal conditions for a clear Pinot Nero full of character. Bright ruby to garnet red in colour. Fine, ripe aroma of dark berries and sour cherry. Harmonious and soft on the palate with a good balance of fruit and body. SUPERIORE.DE

Federico II di Svevia, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Sicily, had a special affection for the hills around Monte Vulture. Here, in Basilicata, he had castles built that still stand today. And he loved the wines of the Vulture – those deep, mineral reds that came from the lava soils of the extinct volcano. The Terre degli Svevi estate, founded in 1998, honours his legacy with the name of its flagship wine: Re Manfredi – king Manfred, his son, the fearless warrior. 100% Aglianico, grown at 420 metres in Venosa, on volcanic soil rich in calcium, nitrogen and tuff – the mineral foundation on which the character of this wine is built. A continental climate with harsh winters, hot summers and pronounced temperature fluctuations.

A rare treasure from Le Cinciole: just 2,000 bottles of this exceptional rosé leave the small winery in Panzano each year. With their certified organic Rosato, Valeria Viganò and Luca Orsini have created a unique wine that stands out clearly from comparable wines in the region – 100% Sangiovese, vinified using the traditional white wine method. The Sangiovese grapes are hand-harvested at perfect ripeness and undergo a short, twelve-hour maceration before being gently pressed. Fermentation takes place at a maximum of fifteen degrees in stainless steel tanks, where the wine also completes its ageing. Bottling takes place traditionally in the spring during the waning moon – a detail that reflects the Orsinis' deep connection to nature.

A red wine with character – irresistible in its depth and yet with supple elegance. Noras comes from 90% Cannonau (Grenache) and 10% Carignano and is harvested from old vines rooted in sandy-granitic soils deep in the Sulcis terroir. After late manual harvesting, the must ferments at a controlled 22-24 °C for 12 days in stainless steel tanks, accompanied by regular pumping over to optimise extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place early and spontaneously, followed by around six months of maturation in used French barriques. Before it is released for sale, Noras matures for a further six months in the bottle – a maturation and ageing process that gives it depth and elegance.

"I spent a long time looking for the area in Valpolicella that would best suit my style. Valpolicella Morandina is the freshest and sharpest interpretation of my red wines." Graziano Prà

A Fiano with inner peace and clear origins: Montelapio comes from high altitude vineyards around Lapio. The volcanic, mineral-rich soils give the wine elegant grip and balance. Delicate golden yellow colour. Harmoniously balanced aromas on the nose: yellow apple, white flowers, a hint of rock sugar, salty herbal notes and delicate hazelnut. On the palate, it is fruity with a clear structure and lively acidity that creates a youthful tension. The mineral finish is gently lingering and ends with a feeling of persistence that lingers for a long time.

Zisola is the Tuscan dream of the Mazzei family in the south of Sicily. The winery's bestseller is made from 100% Nero d'Avola from traditional Alberello vines near Noto, where chalky soils and proximity to the sea balance the natural exuberance of this indigenous grape variety with freshness and elegance. The Marchesi Mazzei, one of Italy's most historic winegrowing families with over 600 years of tradition, have been continuing their Sicilian project since 2003. 24 hectares of vineyards surround the historic bagli of the 50-hectare tenuta with a view of the baroque UNESCO World Heritage Site of Noto. Hand-picked and fermented for 14-16 days at 26-28°C, the wine matures for 10 months in French oak barrels (33% new).

Barbaspinosa comes from the hills around Poggio la Mozza – characterised by ferruginous clay soils that give the Sangiovese backbone and depth. The wine is aged for twelve months, partly in barriques and partly in large wooden barrels. Ruby red in colour with a slightly lighter rim. The bouquet smells of black cherry, plum, Maremma herbs, some tobacco and a hint of leather. Powerful but well-balanced on the palate, with ripe fruit, grippy tannins and fine spice. The vintage gives fullness, but remains surprisingly fresh thanks to the cool nights. A Sangiovese full of character with a Tuscan soul – down-to-earth, honest and with a distinctive expression of the Maremma. SUPERIORE.DE

Nas-cëtta, also known as Anas-Cetta, is a rare, indigenous white wine variety from Piedmont that was almost forgotten. Originally native to the Novello region, it is characterised by its fine structure, aromatic complexity and good ageing potential. For Il Fiore, it is combined with 70% Chardonnay to harmonise fruit and texture. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the purity of the fruit and the clear expression of its Piedmontese origins.

Ribolla Gialla with ambition: Rjgialla is Tunella's elegant interpretation of the indigenous grape variety that has been rooted in Friuli for centuries. The vines grow on slopes with lean marl soil, which gives the wine precision and freshness. Bright straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. The bouquet is fine and expressive: lemon zest, white peach, blossom honey, pear and a hint of herbal spice. Slender but full of character on the palate, with lively acidity, delicate fruit and a clear, slightly salty finish. A fresh, delicate white wine with a regional profile – ideal with light summer cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

La Morra, calcareous sandy soils, north-eastern slopes – this is where the 20 to 40-year-old Dolcetto vines for Elio Altareclassic grow. The Barolo revolutionary, who shook up the Langhe with Burgundian vinification methods in the 1970s, remains true to his Dolcetto: a wine for every day, as the farmers have been drinking it with pasta for generations. Maceration takes just two to three days in rotary fermenters at a controlled temperature, after which the grapes mature for ten months in stainless steel tanks – puristic, without the influence of wood.

The name says it all: "Due lame" – two terraces – refers to the extreme range in altitude of the vineyards, which stretch from 420 to 655 metres. These are the highest-altitude Sangiovese vineyards in the whole of Tuscany, perched on the mineral-rich terraces that gave the village of Lamole its name. The soils, composed of ochre-coloured "Macigno Toscano" interspersed with galestro and alberese, lend the wine its characteristic sharpness and elegance. The estate, situated in the heart of Chianti Classico, has been part of the Santa Margherita Group (Herita Wines) since 1993 and vinifies its wines in the historic cellars of a castle dating from 1350. The grapes undergo visual sorting, ferment in stainless steel with 7–10 days' contact with the skins, and mature on the lees until late winter. A brief ageing period in large oak barrels rounds off the wine. 

Verdeca is a grape variety that hardly anyone knows – and that is no coincidence. For centuries, it was used as the base material for vermouth, was rarely vinified as a single variety and was considered too unspectacular for its own bottle. Yet its history is an ancient one: Greek in origin, it probably arrived in Apulia with the first settlers and became native to the sandy limestone soils of Salento. Masseria Li Veli has given it a stage with the Askos project – and the wine critics have responded. Askos Verdeca is the only Apulian white wine ever to be honoured by Gambero Rosso with its Tre Bicchieri.

A fragrant charmer with depth: Valmasìa is made from Malvasia Istriana, which thrives on the characteristic Ponca soils of the Colli Orientali. The terroir lends the wine an invigorating freshness and delicate minerality. In the glass, it is a pale straw yellow with a greenish sheen. On the nose, floral notes of orange blossom, ripe pear and nutmeg, accompanied by a hint of herbal tea. On the palate, it is fragrant and lively, with a smooth texture, delicate spice and an elegant, dry finish. A versatile, characterful white wine with a Mediterranean soul – ideal with antipasti, fish or herb-infused risotto. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sogni al Campo" – dreams in the field. A name that reveals what drives this co-operative: 180 Piedmontese winegrowers who work together to cultivate around 300 hectares in the best vineyards in the region and make wine in the ultra-modern winery in Barolo. What unites them is the belief that co-operation does not have to mean compromise, but concentration on the essentials. This Langhe Nebbiolo shows how cleverly Piedmont handles its grape varieties: 85 per cent Nebbiolo provides structure and those typical aromas of cherry, violet and a hint of tar. But the 15 per cent Barbera is the secret – they bring juiciness and a lively acidity that makes the Nebbiolo more accessible in its youth without taking away its soul. After traditional fermentation, the wine matures for twelve months in barriques, which give it a subtle spiciness and finely polished tannins.

Documented since 1370, Lagrein epitomises authentic South Tyrol like no other grape variety. This autochthonous variety, related to Syrah and resulting from a natural cross with Teroldego, finds optimal conditions in the alluvial soils of Bolzano, Ora and Magreid. The natural cultivation of the selected partner farms respects the characteristic intensity of this Burgundy-coloured variety. Traditional mash fermentation at a controlled temperature in steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation and twelve months of ageing in large wooden barrels, results in a Lagrein with a classic character.