0.75 liter

This is where it all began. In Viagrande, on the south-eastern slope of Mount Etna, where Giuseppe Benanti's grandfather planted the first vines at the end of the 19th century, lies the heart of the winery. The Contrada Monte Serra is no ordinary vineyard – it rises on an extinct volcanic cone that once erupted independently of the main crater and whose pyroclastic deposits created a unique soil: light, rich in skeletons, with exceptional drainage. At an altitude of just 450 metres, closer to the Ionian Sea than the other contrade, the grapes ripen earlier here and develop a softer, more accessible elegance. The vines – some over 100 years old – grow in the traditional Alberello on small terraces with lava stone dry stone walls, with an extreme density of 9,000 vines per hectare. The sandy volcanic soils are rich in ripiddu, the characteristic small pumice skeleton of Etna.

Here comes Bruno Giacosa's rare Metodo Classico made from 100% Pinot Nero, which demonstrates the fine art of sparkling in its finest form and impressively emphasises Piedmont's potential for sparkling wines even outside the Alta Langa. Clear, bright straw yellow in colour with a fine, persistent perlage. The bouquet is multi-layered: ripe yellow apple, Williams pear, fresh citrus zest and a hint of white flowers, underpinned by a fine brioche note and subtle nutty hints from the 30 months of ageing on the lees. Remarkably precise and elegant on the palate, the texture is silky and carried by a present, perfectly integrated acidity. Delicate salty nuances and a hint of chalk lend length and tension, while the fruit remains clear and pure. A spumante in a class of its own! SUPERIORE.DE

Anrar is the answer to a simple question: what happens when South Tyrol's second most important red grape variety is given time in wood? While the classic Pinot Nero retains its freshness in stainless steel, Anrar takes a different approach. Approx. 12 months in French barriques for malolactic fermentation and further ageing. No wood show, but elegant integration. That makes the difference. But not alone: the best Pinot Nero vineyards around Andriano provide the grapes. Altitudes between 350 and 450 metres, where the calcareous clay soils are interspersed with dolomite rock. The cooler microclimate ensures slow ripening, more acidity and finer tannins. Perfect for a Pinot Nero with Burgundian ambitions.

The Pigato grape has great ageing and maturation potential, especially in Liguria. U Baccan (Ligurian: the head) comes mainly from vines in the Russeghine vineyard, which are over 50 years old, produce a very low yield and give it enormous complexity. Intense straw yellow in colour with bright golden-green reflections. The bouquet is impressively pure with beguiling hints of sage, thyme, peach, mango, cedar bark, acacia honey and silica. Enveloping, balsamic and mineral on the palate, with a hint of salty almond and candied citrus fruit on the long, vibrant final. A Pigato in a class of its own in the finest Riserva quality. SUPERIORE.DE

Masari's flagship presents itself in a deep, dense garnet red colour. Ripe blackberry and cassis on the nose, underpinned by bitter cocoa and ripe cherries, light leather spice and liquorice. Full and balanced on the palate, slowly but complexly spreads over the tongue, then convinces with beautiful and lasting pressure, long, salty and simply wonderful. SUPERIORE.DE

It was 1991 when Michele Satta planted his first Syrah vine in Bolgheri – an act of rebellion in a still young appellation that was just beginning to find its identity. The visionary winemaker from Varese followed a clear conviction: The Syrah should maximise the aromatic complexity of the Mediterranean terroir and at the same time express his personal identification with the great wines of the Rhône. Thirty years later, this exotic wine has matured into one of Bolgheri's most fascinating single-vineyard wines.

A small portion of Merotto's top product was held back on the occasion of the winery's fiftieth anniversary celebrations and only came onto the market after more than two years of bottle ageing. Graziano Merotto personally monitored the maturation and development in the bottle over the entire period. The result of this extraordinary anniversary project is a sparkling wine of great complexity, elegance and personality. It is an impressive reflection of the soul, history and passion of Graziano Merotto. SUPERIORE.DE

1997 saw the birth of Bradisismo, named after the geological event that led to the formation of the Colli Berici. It is a successful symbiosis of the intense, concentrated flavour of ripe Cabernet cherries and the lively, spicy notes of Carménère. With its bouquet of small dark berries, spices, pepper and chocolate, it is a wonderfully inexpensive alternative to the great Bordeaux blends or Supertuscans. On the palate, it has a velvety texture, with a mix of dark fruits, cherries, floral notes and fine tannins that glide seamlessly over the palate. Deep, long finish and very good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

From the beginning, Pio Cesare produced limited quantities of Barolo Chinato and Vermouth, precisely according to a family recipe handed down by his grandfather. In the early 1950s, however, production was discontinued as tastes and preferences changed.

Cerdena – a name that sounds like a secret, but harbours the most poetic truth of Sardinia. This is what the Romans called this island before it became Sardegna. When Antonio Argiolas names his single-varietal top-quality Vermentino this way, it is a declaration of love to an island that reveals its most tender soul in its white wines. In the coastal vineyards of Serdiana, where the salty winds of the Mediterranean blow over the warm limestone and granite soils, Vermentino thrives in an almost magical symbiosis. Here, where the vines are bathed by the cool sea breeze at night, while the Sardinian sun ripens the grapes to perfection during the day, a wine is created year after year that bears the essence of this unique island. Vinification follows the philosophy of gentle extraction: temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures to preserve the delicate flavours, followed by a short maturation on the fine lees. No wood should mask the pure freshness of this Mediterranean symphony – cerdena is the essence of Vermentino in its purest form.

The A in the name of Boggina stands for the natural wine aged for around 6 months in 400-600 Liters terracotta amphorae, which is bottled in a run of just 5,000 bottles without the addition of sulphites. Light, bright garnet red in colour. The bouquet is ethereal, very delicate and nuanced, with a very precise interpretation of the fragrance of the Sangiovese grape. Medium-bodied on the palate, with an exceptionally beautiful structure and authentic Sangiovese fruit with a salty vein. The finish is highly drinkable, with silky tannins and beguiling length. A masterpiece of beauty and elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

Since summer 2023, Chianti Classico producers have been allowed to include the eleven additional geographical indications (UGA = unità geografiche aggiuntive) introduced in 2021 on the labels of the top Gran Selezione category. For Chianti Classico winegrowers, it is a logical step to produce wines that reflect the area in which they were produced as authentically as possible. And customers can thus deepen their knowledge of the relationship between the wines and their region of origin - a real added value.

Trefiano was created in 1979 from an idea by Vittorio Contini Bonacossi to show all the complexity and longevity that Carmignano is capable of. Named after the historic hamlet of Trefiano, where a magnificent 16th century villa is surrounded by two exquisite vineyards, this Riserva represents the absolute pinnacle of what Tenuta di Capezzana has to offer. With just over 5,000 bottles produced each year, Trefiano is one of the rarest and most sought-after Tuscan riservas – a wine that not only celebrates the present, but was created for the future.

The Pianodario parcel is located at an average altitude of 775 metres above sea level between the hamlet of Montelaguardia and Randazzo. It covers an area of around 8 hectares of vineyards. The soils are of volcanic origin and are up to 40,000 years old.

The project aims to highlight the link between the vines, the wines and their territorial origins. The Mastroberardino family wants to recreate the style of winemaking of the indigenous grape varieties of Irpinia (Greco, Fiano and Aglianico) that took place between the late 1950s and early 1970s for the Taurasi and between 1970 and 1980 for the two white wines from Irpinia. It is the unmistakable style (the stilèma) of a family that has interpreted the natural heritage of its territory over generations and that today impressively emphasises the genuine character of the terroir, which by no means can be expressed through high concentration and intensity alone.

Rosé 2020 combines Chardonnay with a proportion of Pinot Nero from carefully selected parcels. Maturation on the lees for at least 30 months gives the Brut its smooth creaminess and delicate perlage. In the glass, it is an elegant old rose colour with a delicate shimmer and a persistent, fine mousse. The aroma reveals nuances of raspberry, pomegranate, pink grapefruit and delicate rose petals, complemented by brioche and an underlying spiciness. Present, juicy and refreshing on the palate, with lively acidity and astonishing depth of fruit. The finish is dry, clear and of restrained, mineral length – a rosé with presence, tension and elegance full of character. SUPERIORE.DE

The wine comes from a neighbouring walled vineyard around the Villa di Trefiano, which produces a wonderfully elegant variant of Carmignano. Trefiano Riserva remains in used 350-litre tonneaux for 18 months after spontaneous fermentation. Bright, noble ruby red colour. Black cherry and cassis on the nose, with an intense, ripe and juicy plum flavour. Long, multi-layered and complex on the palate, the Riserva needs a little more air and shows a little more depth than the classic Carmignano. The 10% Canaiolo component ensures its irresistible fragrance and complexity, simply marvellous! SUPERIORE.DE

In the treasure troves of time, where ancient wisdom meets modern vision, Petruna Anfora is born – a tribute to the origins of viticulture and at the same time a revolutionary expression of pure Sangiovese. The hand-picked grapes for this extraordinary experiment in clay and time come from the unique single vineyard Casa al Coltro, where slate soils at an altitude of 350 metres force the vines to achieve the utmost concentration.

1997 saw the birth of Bradisismo, named after the geological event that led to the formation of the Colli Berici. It is a successful symbiosis of the intense, concentrated flavour of ripe Cabernet cherries and the lively, spicy notes of Carménère. With its bouquet of small dark berries, spices, pepper and chocolate, it is a wonderfully inexpensive alternative to the great Bordeaux blends or Supertuscans. On the palate, it has a velvety texture, with a mix of dark fruits, cherries, floral notes and fine tannins that glide seamlessly over the palate. Deep, long finish and very good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Terra di Monteverro is the estate's finely composed second wine, but in terms of expression, fidelity to its origins and depth, it is far more than that. It comes from the stony, coastal slopes near Capalbio in the southern Maremma - a region that was characterised by a long, warm summer in 2021 with moderate peaks and cool nights in September. The climatic balance allowed the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot grape varieties, which were harvested and vinified parcel by parcel, to ripen perfectly.

The strictly selected grapes come from the vineyard "Il Corno" of approx. 400 m altitude with ideal southern exposure. Bright, sparkling ruby red. Well structured nose of blackberries, cassis, some cedar and shoe polish. Medium ripe, quite fresh fruit on the palate, yet supple and well balanced with all the volume. In the rest of the drink with great finesse, coolness and liveliness, the finish is long with well integrated wood, red fruitiness, with a slightly salty vein and lots of spice. A harmonious and well-proportioned top wine of the house, which can rightly bear the highest quality level Gran Selezione. SUPERIORE.DE

Dark, concentrated ruby red colour. Complex on the nose with an abundance of ripe red and black berry fruit aromas, including sour cherry, blackcurrant and elderberry, followed by notes of dried violets, sweet spices, liquorice, cocoa powder, mentholated tobacco and eucalyptus. Rich and multi-layered on the palate, powerful and soft with youthful but well-integrated tannins and excellent acidity. Only reveals its large reservoir of impressions after some aeration. Very long on the finish, great ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE