Formats

Cerasuolo – the name is derived from "cerasa", meaning cherry, and also describes the vibrant colour of this rosé made from 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. The Di Properzio brothers have been producing it in Spoltore, near Pescara, since 1990: hand-harvested, 18 hours' maceration, followed by saignée and slow fermentation at a low temperature in stainless steel. No oak, no frills – just the grape variety and the terroir. Cherry red in the glass, with fresh sour cherry, strawberry and a hint of pomegranate on the nose. On the palate, lively acidity, a juicy mouthfeel and a salty minerality that recalls its proximity to the Adriatic Sea. Not a pale terrace rosé, but a wine with backbone – and one of Italy’s often-underestimated rosati. SUPERIORE.DE

A grape variety like a phoenix rising from the ashes: Pecorino was considered almost extinct until the 1980s, displaced by higher-yielding varieties. Then it was rediscovered – and today this ancient Abruzzese grape is experiencing a spectacular renaissance. According to legend, it owes its name to the sheep (pecora), which loved to nibble on the sweet berries as they travelled through the vineyards. At Zaccagnini, pecorino grows on clayey soils in the provinces of Pescara and Chieti. The harvest at the end of August – later than for Trebbiano and Pinot Grigio – gives the wine its characteristic structure. After cryomaceration and gentle vacuum pressing, the must ferments at a low temperature in stainless steel.

The small vine wood on the neck of the bottle tells a story: In Bolognano, the small village in the province of Pescara where Zaccagnini has been making wine since 1978, the local women tie each Tralcetto to the bottle by hand with raffia. A symbol of the connection with the land that has long since become a trademark. The Bianco di Ciccio comes from vineyards on clayey soils, where the vines grow partly on the classic pergola and partly on a trellis. An early harvest at the beginning of August preserves the lively acidity. After gentle vacuum pressing and cold clarification, only the fine must fraction ferments at a controlled low temperature – a process that maximises freshness and aroma.

A Chardonnay that transports us to an Italian summer from the very first sip: Fosche is like the morning light over Barolo – fresh, airy and simply vibrant. The grapes grow on gently sloping hills and the wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel to preserve the pure fruit and crisp clarity. No oak, no pretence – just Chardonnay in its most elegant and freshest form. In the glass, it displays a pale straw-yellow colour with a silvery sheen. On the nose, aromas of Golden Delicious and Williams pear unfold, overlaid with delicate notes of orange blossom, citrus zest and a hint of apricot – all balanced on a subtle mineral base. On the palate, it is fresh and lively, with elegant clarity. Citrus freshness and juicy fruit blend perfectly with a delicate creaminess from the fine lees ageing, which lingers pleasantly in the long, sparklingly light finish. Light-footed enough for an aperitif, or just distinctive enough to take a spinach and salmon quiche to a whole new level. SUPERIORE.DE

A Sauvignon from Piedmont that does not overwhelm, but tells its story calmly – of gentle hills, morning mist and cool high-altitude terroir. Tra Donne Sole, named after a novella by Cesare Pavese, plays subtly yet impressively on the varietal character of the grape. The grapes come from selected vineyards with calcareous soils, which lend the wine freshness and structure. Ageing in stainless-steel tanks preserves its precision and bouquet.

Keya is the impressive result of several years of experimental work, and the outcome is a rosé made from 50-year-old vines that perfectly expresses the style and character of the Rizzardi vineyards in the hills above Bardolino. The label pays homage to the Venetian heritage of Countess M. C. Loredan, who ran the estate for many years and played a key role in establishing Chiaretto Bardolino as a much-loved classic wine of the region. The name is derived from the first two syllables of Chi-a-ret-to (KEY-A).

Cerasuolo is not a rosé – at least not in the fashionable sense. It is an independent type of wine with its own DOC since 2010, deeply rooted in Abruzzo's wine culture. The name is derived from cerasa, the dialect word for cherry, and describes the characteristic colour that has accompanied the region's tables for centuries. Zaccagnini's Tralcetto is a lesson in what Montepulciano can do without prolonged contact with the skins: The grapes are gently pressed and only the must is fermented at a low temperature – at a low temperature to preserve the fruit. Brief ageing in stainless steel, then into the bottle.

The Sallier de la Tour winery has been owned by the Counts Tasca since 2009, making it the fifth company that complements and characterises the diversity and professionalism of what is probably Sicily's most famous winery. Aromatic bouquet of sweet cherries and wild berries. Clear on the palate with a beautiful fruit centre and a radiant freshness, appealing finish. A beautiful Syrah that impressively demonstrates Sicily's potential for international grape varieties. SUPERIORE.DE

As sparkling as a sunny day on the plains, this Barbera immediately exudes a zest for life without drawing attention to itself in a loud way – the name "Rossofuoco", meaning "red wine of fire", lives up to its poetic name with dignity. The grapes, organically grown, thrive on gently undulating limestone-loam soil in the Asti region. Gentle hand-harvesting, stainless steel vinification and spontaneous fermentation lend the wine clarity and vitality.

Garganega and Chardonnay from the gravel soils between Valpolicella and Soave – hand-picked, cold macerated and fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel. The four Castagnedi brothers focus on pure fruit without wood: straw yellow with green reflections, acacia blossom, citrus peel and ripe pear on the nose, fresh and juicy on the palate with a fine salinity reminiscent of the gravel soils of Colognola. Uncomplicated Veronese white wine at a high level. SUPERIORE.DE

Pinot Grigio from Abruzzo? Yes, and how! What often degenerates into a bland, mass-produced wine in Veneto or Friuli gains real character in the hills of Chieti. The clayey soils and the interplay of the Adriatic breeze and the cool of the Apennines lend this international grape variety a freshness and aromatic profile that you'd search for in vain elsewhere. The grapes are harvested early in the first half of August to preserve acidity and aroma. After gentle vacuum pressing, only the free-run juice is fermented at a low temperature. A brief period of ageing on the lees lends the wine additional texture and depth before it is matured in stainless steel.

The Sallier de la Tour winery has been owned by the Counts Tasca since 2009, making it the fifth winery that complements and characterises the diversity and professionalism of what is probably Sicily's most famous winery. At Sallier de la Tour, the focus is on the Grillo, Inzolia, Syrah and Nero d'Avola grape varieties. Light yellow in colour with green reflections. Orange zest, meadow flowers and notes of melon and herbs on the nose. Fresh and light on the palate, again fruity, with a fine almond flavour. A delicious classic for light Mediterranean cuisine and warm summer evenings. SUPERIORE.DE

Straw-yellow with greenish highlights. A fresh nose of yellow fruits and meadow herbs. On the palate, notes of citrus enveloped by a delicate acid wire and spice. The trendy white grape variety Grillo is simply a delight in the glass. The Sallier de la Tour estate has been owned by the Counts of Tasca since 2009 and is thus the fifth estate to complement and define the diversity and professionalism of what is arguably Sicily's most famous winery. At Sallier de la Tour, the focus is on the Grillo, Inzolia, Syrah and Nero d'Avola grape varieties. SUPERIORE.DE

From the sun-drenched hills between Tramin, Neumarkt and Auer comes this innovative white cuvée, which combines the best of four grape varieties full of character. The traditional Tramin winery, founded in 1898 by the visionary priest Christian Schrott, demonstrates its masterful flair for harmonious blends with the "T" Cuvée Bianco. Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling thrive here on calcareous clay soils between 250 and 550 metres above sea level, where the extreme temperature fluctuations between warm days and cool nights give the grapes their special variety of flavours.

Lake Kaltern is the warmest lake in the Alps. This is not a tourist exaggeration, but a geological fact – and of crucial importance for the vineyards around its shores. The water stores the heat of the summer and gives it back in the cooler autumn nights. This microclimate has made the area the most famous growing region for Vernatsch grapes for centuries. The St. Michael-Eppan winery, founded in 1907 and now run by 340 member families, sources its grapes for this wine from the Sattel vineyard site – those gently sloping vineyards between Eppan and the lake, at 420 to 480 metres, south-east to south-west exposure, on moraine debris soils from the last ice age. The vines are up to 50 years old. Harvesting takes place at the beginning of October, by hand – and the word "Auslese" in the name says it all: Only the ripest grapes go into this wine, vinified separately from the rest of the harvest. Only steel, no wood – the fruit should speak for itself.

The Roero region has long been Barolo's quiet sister – yet wines such as this make it clear that great stories are unfolding here too. Villata comes from selected vineyard plots in the heart of the Roero, where the limestone- and sand-rich soils lend the Arneis its distinctive character. The grapes are harvested early in the morning, vinified in stainless steel and left on the fine lees until bottling – this preserves freshness, precision and a delicate texture.

Orion here does not mean the constellation, but a border. The Greek "oros" means edge, dividing line – and that is exactly what this path once was: the ancient road that separated Byzantine lands from Lombard lands, today a quiet country lane right next to the Primitivo vineyards of Masseria Li Veli in Cellino San Marco. History you can feel under your feet. 100% Primitivo, harvested at the end of August, limestone-clay soils, 10 to 20 year old vines – partly Alberello, the ancient Apulian bush vine cultivation style. Fermentation in steel, six months in barrique. Roberto Cotarella holds the line.

I.P – two letters that mean a lot in the Marsala Codex: Italia Particolare, the traditional quality mark for Marsala, to which mosto cotto – cooked grape must – is added. It gives the wine its characteristic depth, its amber colour and that warm sweetness that is never overpowering. Pellegrino produces this Fine from Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia, the classic triumvirate of grape varieties from western Sicily, and ages it in oak for at least twelve months. Not a vintage, not a Riserva, but an honest, everyday Marsala with genuine origins.

This single-varietal Grillo comes from vineyards near the coast around Marsala, whose salty soils and proximity to the sea lend the wine its fresh, mineral-driven character. Pale straw yellow with a greenish sheen. On the nose, it offers notes of white peach, star fruit, lemon zest and sage, with a hint of sea breeze. On the palate, it is dry, with lively acidity, crisp fruit and a salty edge. The finish is unpretentious, fresh and elegant. A typical Sicilian wine with lovely character – authentic, crisp and Mediterranean. Perfect with grilled fish, marinated seafood or summer vegetable dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

The name says it all: Badilante pays tribute to the workers who, for generations, used their spades to drain and cultivate the marshy lands of the Maremma. Simone Castelli, son of the legendary OenologistMaurizio, vinifies this single-varietal Sangiovese at the organically farmed Podere 414 vineyard near Scansano. The grapes grow at an altitude of 230 metres in loamy-clay soils with a high proportion of coarse material. Spontaneous fermentation in concrete, 15–18 days’ maceration with délestage and remontage, followed by ageing partly in concrete and partly in wood.

In the 19th century, this was the only method of sparkling Lambrusco: second fermentation in the bottle, yeast remains in the bottle, no retaking, no correction (pet-nat method). Albinea Canali has never given up on it. The result is a little different every time – and that's exactly the point. Lambrusco Grasparossa as a base, steel tank for the first fermentation, then bottle. The fine lees of the yeast soften the structure and give the bouquet those characteristic brioche notes that no Charmat process can produce.

Castelnuovo dell'Abate is located at the southern tip of Montalcino – right next to the Romanesque Abbey of Sant'Antimo, one of the most important ecclesiastical monuments in Tuscany. The Fanti family has lived here for generations. When the Sant'Antimo DOC was founded in 1996, Filippo and Elisa Fanti were involved from the very beginning – out of a close bond with this place, its soil and its history. Sassomagno, named after the stony, rocky character of the terroir – is their most personal commitment to this region: a Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, which shows the versatility of Montalcino's southern location in an accessible, easy-drinking form.