Formats

In the gentle hills between Gran Sasso and Majella, where the silhouettes of Abruzzo stand out against the sky, a palazzo baronale has been enthroned since the 17th century, telling a very special love story. Castello di Semivicoli – once the summer residence of Sicilian nobles, later a military hospital, then a derelict ruin – was purchased by Gianni Masciarelli as a gift for his wife and, after years of restoration work, was transformed into one of the most beautiful wine resorts in Abruzzo. The Pecorino vines that now surround the historic building are rooted at an altitude of 380 metres in the calcareous soils of the Provincia Chieti, which have always been prized for their mineral complexity. Here, where the maritime influences of the Adriatic meet the continental mountain climate, white wines of characteristic freshness and distinct territoriality are produced.

In 1987, there were still 0.5 hectares of Timorasso in the whole of Piedmont. The grape variety, once widespread in the hills south-east of Turin, had almost disappeared due to phylloxera, structural change and lack of interest. Walter Massa rescued it – and brought it back into the dialogue. Giorgio Rivetti from La Spinetta, whose eye for exceptional terroirs has made his company great, recognised the potential and planted in Montemarzino, Montegioco and Monleale. Derthona – the ancient Roman name for Tortona, the capital of these hills – became the name of the wine. 100% Timorasso, south-west and south-east facing vineyards, organic cultivation. Destemming, gentle pressing, fermentation in temperature-controlled small stainless steel tanks. Then seven months on the fine lees – no malolactic fermentation, the acidity remains naturally lively. Four months in the bottle before release.

Pale straw yellow with a sparkling lustre. Noble nuances of flint on the nose, mineral with beautiful citrus, grapefruit and gooseberry notes. Subtly creamy and taut on the palate, with beautiful precision and juiciness, the racy, long final is pleasantly fresh and slightly salty. SUPERIORE.DE

In 2008, the Mazzei family embarked on an agronomic and oenological research project designed to answer a single question: can Vermentino truly be a great wine in the Maremma? Not merely pleasant or agreeable – but great. Deep, complex and suitable for ageing. The answer came with the 2021 vintage. The former "Codice V" became "Belguardo V" – and with it, the very first Vermentino Superiore Maremma Toscana DOC ever to appear on the market. The "Superiore" stands for a conviction that took 13 years to realise, until the wine had earned that designation.

Castello della Sala, located not far from Orvieto at an altitude of 500 metres, produces excellent wines without exception, as the inexpensive "entry-level wine" San Giovanni della Sala proves. The wine is produced in the vineyards of the ancient castle of Castello della Sala from the combination of the indigenous grape varieties Grechetto and Procanico with Pinot Bianco and Viognier and interprets the Orvieto Classico in a new style. Its freshness, richness and balance are remarkable, with notes of yellow flowers, green apple, sage and ginger. On the palate, an incredibly silky texture and juicy acidity guide this juicy white wine into a beautiful, mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Gravello is Librandi's great classic red – and has been a pioneering wine for the region since the 1980s. This blend of Gaglioppo and Cabernet Sauvignon is regarded as a symbol of modern Calabria: powerful, structured and of international calibre, whilst remaining true to its origins. It is aged for twelve months in French barriques, lending the wine depth and elegance. Gravello embodies the new Calabrian identity: rooted in tradition, ambitious and with a clear commitment to quality. A wine for connoisseurs – and one of the region’s finest reds.

What Carricante is to white wines, Nerello Mascalese is to reds on Mount Etna: a grape variety shaped more distinctly by this terroir than by any other in the world. Thin-skinned, light in colour, low in tannins – fragile at first glance. At second glance: precise to the very core. The younger Nerello Mascalese vines of Contrada Montedolce form the basis of the Contrade Nuove – direct, approachable, with the freshness that the north-facing slope climate at 730 to 750 metres almost inevitably produces. The warm summer of 2022 gave the wine a little more texture and dark fruit than usual – the timely autumn rain preserved its freshness. Davide Rosso vinifies using a modular approach that is unusual by Etna standards: amphorae for oxygen contact, conical oak barrels and stainless steel. This is Giovanni's deliberate strategy to counteract the Nerello's tendency towards reduction without sacrificing fruit and minerality.

"A quei tempi era sempre festa" – back then there was always a party. Thus begins Cesare Pavese's novel "La bella estate", written in 1940 and awarded the Premio Strega in 1950, a tale about those fleeting summers of youth when anything seems possible. It is no coincidence that Vite Colte named its Moscato Passito after this work: the Barolo cooperative has dedicated several of its wines to Piedmontese Liters– "La Luna e i Falò", also a Pavese title, adorns their award-winning Barbera d'Asti. It is a nod to their homeland, to the landscape of hills and mist that Pavese described so unmistakably.

Gewürztraminer is no unassuming grape variety. It walks into a room – and everyone turns to look. The question is not whether it stands out, but whether there is substance behind the aroma. With the Lyra from Nals Margreid, the answer is: yes. The vineyards are situated in the South Tyrolean Unterland, facing south-east, at altitudes of between 350 and 550 metres at the foot of the Roen mountain range. The soil, consisting of broodingloamy gravel over limestone, gives the wine its texture, whilst the afternoon "Ora" breeze from Lake Garda ensures freshness and healthy harvest. Cellar master Harald Schraffl vinifies this single-varietal wine in stainless steel tanks, with three weeks' fermentation at a cool temperature followed by seven months' ageing on fine lees.

Dry warmth during the day and refreshing coolness at night - ideal conditions for a Gewürztraminer that is leaner and fresher at Weingut Falkenstein than is otherwise known from South Tyrol. Bright yellow. On the nose, ripe but never exuberant aromas of dried fruits, honey, a little scent of roses. Medium-bodied on the palate and extremely drinkable due to its relatively low residual sweetness. The long fermentation on the natural yeasts ensures a balanced and lean appearance here. SUPERIORE.DE