Formats

A white wine that immediately evokes south-western Sardinia the moment it touches the palate. Villa di Chiesa hails from the sun-drenched slopes of the lower Sulcis region near Porto Pino – calcareous, sandy soils and a sea breeze provide the aromatic essence of this characterful cuvée of Vermentino and Chardonnay. The name itself evokes history: "Villa di Chiesa" was once the medieval name for Iglesias, the town near which viticulture, mining and culture are closely intertwined – a subtle nod to this wine’s deep roots in the local context.

Three thousand years of wine-growing history are encapsulated in a single road name: the Strada Provinciale 68 near Vittoria, the route along which generations of Sicilian farmers carried their amphorae – and later their barrels – to market. Arianna Occhipinti, a pioneer of Sicilian natural wine, has created a liquid tribute to this country road. Albanello and Zibibbo, two indigenous Sicilian varieties, grow here on red sand over limestone. The grapes ferment together with wild yeasts in concrete vats; two weeks' maceration give the Bianco its characteristic texture. Bottled unfiltered, it retains its lively cloudiness.

La Rosé de Manincor is produced using the classic saignée method – by drawing off the juice from the estate's finest red wine batches. The grapes come from the Manincor, Seehof, Panholzerhof and Mazzon vineyards, situated at altitudes of between 250 and 500 metres. Rich clay soils, interspersed with limestone gravel and glacial rock deposits, define its character. The composition of the cuvée varies slightly from year to year – in 2025 it consists of 30% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 20% Pinot Nero, 13% Vernatsch, 4% Tempranillo, 4% Syrah and 4% Petit Verdot. After six to twelve hours of maceration, the must is racked off – the part that makes the red wines more concentrated and gives the rosé its colour, structure and richness of aroma. Fermentation takes place in wooden casks, partly spontaneously with wild yeasts. The wine is then aged on the fine lees for five months, during which time the aromas refine and that creamy texture develops which characterises La Rosé.

Merlot in South Tyrol – this may sound like a misunderstanding, but it is one of the most convincing arguments in favour of the versatility of the southern lowlands. Margreid, the southernmost corner of the winery, supplies the white wine grapes to Gennen and Magred. The same soil, the same climate, the same ora – is used by Levad for something completely different. White limestone gravel soil with a high humus content, 220 to 350 metres, south-east exposure. Warm summers, mild winters, the daily afternoon wind from Lake Garda. Conditions that allow Merlot to fully ripen without suffocating it in opulence. Hand-picked, careful destemming, fermentation in steel tanks with gentle pumping over – then twelve months in barriques and a further year of bottle ageing. The ageing gives structure, the soil gives minerality, the climate gives depth.

Centovie is coming together. After the Pecorino kicked things off, the Rosato followed – and finally, in 2015, the Montepulciano. The Bernetti family describes it as "a wine that did not exist before and which seeks no imitation". A personal, bespoke interpretation of a grape variety and a landscape. The estate lies 200 metres above Roseto degli Abruzzi, facing south-east, between the Gran Sasso and the Adriatic Sea. Clay-sandy limestone soil with an alluvial skeleton, organically farmed from day one. The Montepulciano is grown using two training systems: "Tendone" with long pruning and "Filare" with short spurs, at a density of 1,600 to 5,000 vines per hectare.

A multifaceted introduction to the world of Benanti wines – this Etna Rosso reflects the diversity of the volcano. The grapes are grown at altitudes ranging from 450 to 900 metres, spread across all sides of Mount Etna. The soil is poor and volcanic-sandy, rich in minerals and perfectly aerated – conditions that foster finesse, freshness and a crystalline structure. 80% Nerello Mascalese/20% Nerello Cappuccio. The Nerello Mascalese is aged predominantly in stainless steel, with only around 20% in used oak barrels, whilst the Nerello Cappuccio remains entirely in stainless steel tanks. Both varieties ferment with Benanti's experimental, indigenous yeasts for several weeks at a controlled temperature, followed by blending and further ageing in the bottle.

Dievoles Chianti Classico Catignano is the result of the endeavour to highlight the identity characteristics of particularly suitable vineyards, leading to ever more precise expressions of Sangiovese. Catignano is a plateau at 370 metres above sea level, with vineyards of different ages and a large proportion of Alberese. The exposure is westerly and south-easterly, which means plenty of sun during the day, but also cold temperatures at night, with a good temperature range that favours the aromatic development of the grapes.

A Chardonnay with a distinct terroir profile and signature style – typical of Jermann. The grapes come from the hilly regions of Friuli, where cool autumn winds and limestone-rich soils lend the wine freshness, structure and aromatic clarity. In the glass, it is a pale straw-yellow colour with a greenish sheen. On the nose, subtle yet distinct notes of Williams pear, yellow apple and citrus, with a hint of almond and floral accents. On the palate, it is dry, straightforward and finely structured, with fresh acidity, a delicate creaminess and a pleasant, slightly salty finish. A fresh, stylish Chardonnay without any heaviness, which impresses with its clean lines, regional character and great typicity. SUPERIORE.DE

SP68 Rosso is perhaps Arianna Occhipinti's most direct expression of terroir, grape variety and philosophy. The Frappato and Nero d'Avola grapes come from organically farmed plots on calcareous and sandy soils at an altitude of 280 to 290 metres. Fermented with natural yeasts in concrete, aged for six months in cement tanks, bottled unfiltered – no intervention, no embellishment, pure essence.

A classic from the Collio region, masterfully interpreted: Livio Felluga's Pinot Grigio impresses with its depth, precision and expression of terroir. The vines are rooted in the famous "Flysch di Cormòns" – calcareous marl and sandstone formations that lend the wine its subtle minerality. In the glass, it is a luminous straw yellow with golden highlights. The aroma is delicate and complex: white peaches, ripe pears and a hint of citrus zest, complemented by floral notes and a touch of toasted hazelnut. On the palate, it is dry, supple and well-structured, with well-integrated acidity and an elegant finish. This is no run-of-the-mill summer wine, but a Pinot Grigio to be taken seriously, with substance, which clearly benefits from the estate's style – unpretentious, clear and with fine depth. SUPERIORE.DE

Lagrein is one of South Tyrol's indigenous grape varieties and, at Franz Haas, thrives in sunny vineyards at altitudes of between 220 and 250 metres. Here, at a significantly lower altitude than the white wine vineyards, this late-ripening variety benefits from warm, broodingalluvial soils with a high gravel content. The south-south-west aspect guarantees optimal sunshine right up to the late harvest – crucial for the full phenolic ripeness of this demanding grape variety. After careful hand-harvesting, the grapes are gently destemmed and fermented in open stainless-steel tanks. The cap is submerged gently and not too frequently to avoid the risk of excessive tannin extraction. Following alcoholic fermentation, the wine matures for 10 to 12 months in tonneaux, where malolactic fermentation also takes place. A few months' bottle ageing round off the wine's development before the Lagrein is released onto the market.

The Carbonare vineyard lies halfway up the hillside, facing east, and feels different from Monte Foscarino. This is no figment of the imagination – it really is a different microclimate. Cool air flows down from the Val d'Alpone and its Piccole Dolomiti. Nearby streams reveal the underground water that flows deep beneath the vineyard. A precious resource for a great white wine. The basalt here is rich in colour: shifting from black to green, red and orange, depending on the degree of iron oxidation. When Inama first tasted the grapes, the character was immediately clear: lively citrus notes, vibrant acidity, mineral freshness. The Carbonare wine was born. 100% Garganega. Short maceration, fermentation and 12 months' ageing in stainless steel on the fine lees, followed by a further 6 months' bottle ageing. No oak, no bâtonnage, no distraction from the terroir.

When a woman who brought Valpolicella wines to the world as "Lady Amarone" acquires a vineyard in Montalcino in 2007, it is not to repeat the tried and tested, but to break new ground – but to break new ground. Marilisa Allegrini, the first Italian woman on the cover of Wine Spectator and named "Cavaliere del Lavoro" in 2020, now runs San Polo together with her daughters Carlotta and Caterina. The estate is located on the south-eastern flank of the hill, in Podernovi, at an altitude of around 450 metres – where the extinct volcano Monte Amiata protects the vineyards from hot winds and has left behind pyroclastic soils that give the Sangiovese an unmistakable mineral signature.

"When Baron Philippe de Rothschild plants Sangiovese, I will switch to Cabernet Sauvignon." John Dunkley, the British founder of Riecine, uttered these words at a time when Sangiovese was under pressure in Tuscany. It was a declaration of faith. And it remained the foundation of the estate through all changes of ownership – until July 2024, when Alessandro Campatelli, the cellar master and director since 2016, acquired the remaining shares and Riecine became entirely his own.

Bastonaca. This is not just any plot of land in Vittoria. This is the starting point. When Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti and Cirino Strano brought in their first harvest on 5 October 1980 and filled 1,470 bottles, they were standing right here. Bastonaca is the place of origin of COS – and the 25-year-old Nero d'Avola vines from this vineyard are the basis of Pithos Rosso. When Occhipinti visited Georgia in 1999 and learnt about the Qvevri tradition of terracotta vinification, the first amphorae arrived from Spain in 2000. The wooden barrel disappeared from the cellar. The amphora took over. 150 clay jugs, one of the largest collections of its kind. The Pithos Rosso is the red soul of this project: Nero d'Avola on Pliocene sandy soil, 230 metres, spontaneous fermentation on the skins with natural yeasts in the amphora, maturation in clay jars and in the bottle.

Gewürztraminer is one of South Tyrol's iconic aromatic wines, and Franz Haas interprets this demanding grape variety with the precision of a perfectionist. The vines are trained using the Guyot system at altitudes of between 350 and 650 metres, where south-west-facing, stony loam soils create ideal conditions. These medium altitudes preserve the balance between aromatic opulence and fresh structure – crucial for a Gewürztraminer that does not become stifled by overripe heaviness. After a short maceration period, the must ferments at low, controlled temperatures in stainless steel. This is followed by six months' ageing on the fine lees, during which the lees are stirred weekly – a labour-intensive process that lends the wine a creamy texture and added complexity. This patient work with the yeast clearly distinguishes Franz Haas's interpretation from simpler Gewürztraminers, which are bottled after just a few months.