Formats

Uccelliera's Rosso di Montalcino slowly comes to life with a beguiling blend of mentholated herbs, pine shavings and dried strawberries. It glides over the palate with a texture of pure silk, caressing everything it touches with ripe red fruits and rosy flowers accompanied by a lively acidity. Structured, powerful and long on the final – as always, it far exceeds its weight class and is a top-class Rosso di Montalcino. SUPERIORE.DE

A rare Riesling from Friuli that does not seek grand gestures, but impresses with its precision and subtle tension. The grapes come from higher-lying plots with calcareous flysch soil, which favours the mineral expression. Pale yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. The bouquet opens with fine notes of lime, white peach, some grapefruit and a hint of flint. Slender, straightforward and powerful on the palate, with animating acidity and a pleasantly tart, citrus-accentuated finish. A northern Italian Riesling with character that consciously sets itself apart from German or Alsatian models – fine, dry and mineral in character. Good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

New world meets old world. Impressive Sauvignon Bianco from higher-lying plots in the Langhe around Treiso and Trezzo Tinella, harvested cool and rigorously selected. The musts are fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel; the wine then remains on the fine lees for several months (with gentle stirring), without malolactic fermentation and without the use of wood – for maximum aromatic precision and a fine, chalky texture.

San Filippo is located in the east of Montalcino – the part of the region known for its particular elegance and longevity. Roberto Giannelli, who acquired the winery in 2003 and has consistently favoured organic cultivation and minimal wood intervention ever since, has developed a style with Oenologist Paolo Caciorgna that shows Sangiovese Grosso in its purest form. Lo Scorno is the opening to the first movement – accessible, direct and full of character.

After the difficult 2023, 2024 presented a different challenge: rainy spring, dry midsummer, then eight days of rain in September just before the harvest. Not a vintage for comfort. Siro Pacenti – with his clearly defined plots, old vines in the Pelagrilli clay loam and the determined craftsmanship of Giancarlo Pacenti – selected more than usual this year in order to preserve what is typical.

In Nals, there is a phenomenon that rarely occurs elsewhere with such intensity: the Venti di Caduta – the downdrafts that plunge down from the mountains and can lower the daytime temperature by up to 20 degrees. Hot days, freezing cold nights – all within a matter of hours. For the Sauvignon Blanc, this means maximum ripeness of the fruit during the day and maximum preservation of acidity and aromatics at night. A microclimate that keeps this grape variety on its toes. Added to this is a soil that is unrivalled in terms of depth and composition: a 150-metre-deep alluvial fan, built up over millennia by the Sirmian and Nals streams, consisting of 70 per cent limestone gravel and 30 per cent porphyry debris. Two geological worlds that lend the Sauvignon both mineral rigour and aromatic depth. Facing east-southeast, at an altitude of 330 to 400 metres, this is the heart of the Nals terroirs.

The grapes for Batasiolo's Barbaresco come from the gently rolling hills around the village of the same name, where Nebbiolo has found its unmistakable expression for centuries. The year 2020 brought moderate temperatures and a balanced interplay of sun and rain – ideal conditions to maintain the balance between finesse and structure. In the glass, it glows a clear garnet red with a brick-coloured rim – an indication of its youth and the journey that still lies ahead. The nose opens with ripe cherry, dried raspberry and a hint of rose petals, framed by tobacco, sweet spices and a hint of undergrowth. Taut yet supple on the palate, with fine-grained tannins that give the wine backbone and a fresh, precise acidity that carries its inner tension. Ageing in large wooden barrels allows the fruit to shine, while subtle balsamic and earthy notes develop. The finish is long, clear and elegant, carried by a subtle mineral vein. A Barbaresco that epitomises the classic school of Piedmont – noble, long-lasting and with a depth that will continue to develop for several years. Very good value. SUPERIORE.DE

A name that tells stories: Grign is Cavallatto's affectionate abbreviation for Grignolino – the enigmatic grape variety whose name is derived from the Piedmontese "grignole" and means "many seeds". This thin-skinned grape actually has four to seven seeds per berry instead of the usual two, which gives the wine its characteristic tannin structure. Native to the Monferrato hills since the 13th century, Grignolino was once considered as precious as Barolo – until the fashion for heavier wines pushed it into the shadows. This 2024 comes from a parcel in the middle of the Bricco Boschis, which matures for twelve months in stainless steel tanks after a five-day skin maceration with indigenous yeasts. This careful treatment preserves Grignolino's fragile elegance and tames its wild nature to aristocratic finesse.

Mastrojannis' rich and concentrated Rosso di Montalcino offers a dark, alluring bouquet of sweet herbs, menthol and tobacco, which blend with notes of dried cherries and redcurrants. It soothes with a deep, silky texture, which gives way to tart red berries and piquant spices, underpinned by a lively acidity. It finishes with a balsamic note, featuring a hint of tart citrus and sweet, polished tannins that beautifully round off the experience. SUPERIORE.DE

A wine that inspires with the utmost precision and emotional depth: Libenter (Latin: with pleasure) is the consistent pinnacle of the red line from Tavignano. The cuvée of Montepulciano, Sangiovese and a discreet proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon develops a remarkable complexity after 14–18 months in small oak barrels, it develops a remarkable complexity. Each vine contributes to the intense structure, each grape to the harmonious whole.

In the top "San Clemente" line, Zaccagnini takes Montepulciano from Abruzzo to a new level - towards origin, depth and maturity. The 2019 Riserva comes from the Terre di Casauria DOC area, one of the most characterful zones in the region, located between the Majella massif and the Adriatic coast. The vineyards there are located on calcareous and clayey slopes with good drainage and ideal exposure - a terroir that gives the Montepulciano structure, density and balance. The 2019 vintage was selectively harvested, fermented on the skins at a controlled temperature and then matured for around 24 months in a combination of barriques and large wooden barrels. The use of wood remains discreet, accompanying but not dominating.

Over the years, Marzieno has developed its own personality and, above all, its own credibility, making it, according to critics, one of the few red wines from the Ravenna region that can compete with the best Italian red wines of its kind. It presents itself as a multi-layered and fresh Sangiovese with small amounts of Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot, which give it depth. In its dynamic flavour with a long finish, it relies above all on the substance of its abundant, elegant tannins and very serious fruit. SUPERIORE.DE

Zibibbo is the most aromatic grape variety in Sicily. Its full name is Moscato d'Alessandria – from Alexandria, Egypt, from where it travelled to the Mediterranean for centuries. On Pantelleria, it is known as the soul of the sweet passito. COS turns it into something else: a dry wine, spontaneously fermented on the skins in Liters terracotta amphorae. The vineyards are located in the hinterland of Marsala, at 12 metres above sea level. This is no coincidence – it is part of the programme. The sea is close by, the air is salty, the soil is flat and sandy. Biodynamically cultivated, Guyot training, around 5,000 vines per hectare. Hand-picked in September. Then the amphora: spontaneous fermentation, skin contact, natural yeasts, no intervention.

Grave di Stecca is Nino Franco's exposed single vineyard on the slopes of the Prealpi. The south-facing vineyard is planted exclusively with the Prosecco grape Glera. Brilliantly shining white gold, gently developing perlage, a bouquet of sage with fresh fruit flavours. Very pleasantly dry flavour, silky and long – the indisputably great top-quality wine from the renowned Prosecco producer. SUPERIORE.DE

Purism as a commitment: without the addition of dosage, this Franciacorta reveals the unadorned terroir of Lombardy. The cuvée of Chardonnay (85%) and Pinot Nero (15%) comes from the best vineyards in all 19 Franciacorta communes – with stricter selection and a lower must yield (45%) than the Brut. After gentle pressing and fermentation in stainless steel, the wine is blended in spring with 20% reserve wines from the best vintages. At least 24 months of ageing on the lees, six months longer than for Brut, lends depth and complexity before the wine is disgorged without any additions.

Set amongst the hills of Bibbona, where the vineyards of the Alta Maremma overlook the Tyrrhenian Sea, this distinctive cuvée is the result of an ambitious project by the Antinori brothers. The name Insoglio is a poetic reference to the places where wild boars root around in the ground – a symbol of the wild, unspoilt nature of the Maremma landscape. Composed mainly of Syrah, complemented by Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine displays an intense purplish-red colour with violet highlights.

"The Beautiful Threshing Floor". The name evokes the old threshing floor where grain was dried and threshed: a down-to-earth, rural term for a place that has taken on a ganz andere Klang in the modern world of wine. Tenuta Bell’Aja is situated in Bolgheri, in the Località Le Sondraie, near the famous avenue of cypress trees which Giosuè Carducci immortalised in his 1874 poem “Davanti San Guido”. The poet saw his childhood here; San Felice saw a terroir here that was to become his third great playground. The soil of Bolgheri is different from that of Castelnuovo Berardenga: sandy loam, brooding, well-drained – no galestro, no limestone, but rather the alluvial deposits of a coastal climate that lend Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon a suppleness that heavy soils simply do not allow.

In 1961, Guido Berlucchi and the young Oenologist Franco Ziliani made history: the very first Franciacorta was produced in Borgonato di Corte Franca. This pioneering spirit grew into an institution, and in 2022 Gambero Rosso named the house ‘Winery of the Year’. The Cuvée Imperiale blends Chardonnay (90%) and Pinot Nero (10%) from the finest vineyards across all 19 Franciacorta municipalities. Gentle pressing, fermentation in stainless steel, followed by blending in the spring with 10% reserve wines from the finest vintages. The wine matures on the lees for at least 18 months, followed by a further two months after disgorgement.

Macrina shines in the glass in a clear straw yellow colour with a subtle green hue. The bouquet exudes enchanting notes of fresh white flowers and green apple, carried by an elegant, persistent freshness. On the palate, the wine displays lively acidity, a juicy fruit structure and a distinctive mineral note that stylishly accompanies the floral and fruity accents. The transparent, clear ageing in stainless steel emphasises the pure varietal and origin presence. A juicy Verdicchio with elegant finesse and a drinkable balance. SUPERIORE.DE

In the heart of Alba, nestled within the Roman city walls of ancient Alba Pompeia, lies a winery that has been making history since 1881. Pio Cesare – founded by Cesare Pio, a man who believed in the potential of Nebbiolo when others were still focusing on mass production. Five generations later, Federica Boffa carries on the legacy of her father, Pio Boffa, who sadly passed away far too soon in 2021. Together with her cousin Cesare Benvenuto, she is responsible for one of the last active wineries in Alba's historic centre – a place where time seems to pass more slowly, where large oak casks allow the wines to mature just as they have for over 140 years.

The small, museum-like island of Mozia in the Marsala lagoon is a production site of unrivalled uniqueness. It is a marine ecosystem that has always been linked to the vineyard. The English, who came to Marsala at the beginning of the 19th century and recognised its great potential, initiated the first planting. The vines are cultivated naturally using the Gobelet system with natural irrigation. The grapes are harvested in crates, brought to the mainland in flat-bottomed boats and then transported to the Regaleali winery in air-conditioned lorries to guarantee their aromatic integrity.

Even older than the Bianco: Ca' del Bosco first vinified this red wine, known in the local tradition as "burdonsì magher", back in 1975 – a testimony to Franciacorta's ancient vocation for red grapes, long before the Spumanti came to characterise the region. The name travelled from Franciacorta Rosso DOC to Terre di Franciacorta and Curtefranca Rosso until it became Corte del Lupo in 2016: The farm and the wolf as a symbol of terroir and quality. The cuvée combines 49% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Carménère and 9% Cabernet Franc from eight certified organic vineyards. After the harvest, each individual grape is washed and gently dried – the famous "Metodo Ca' del Bosco" – before fermentation takes place entirely in small oak barrels.

"Palistorti" means "crooked stakes" in Italian - and the name is no coincidence. At the beginning of their winemaking career, Laura and Moreno found many limestone boulders in the vineyards, which caused the freshly driven stakes to become crooked and crooked when planted. And that's how this exciting second wine got its name, the estate owners reveal in conversation.

The Foscarino label features two faces – studies by the English architect Inigo Jones (1573–1652), the first proponent of Palladian-inspired classicism in England. "The sacred and the profane," says Inama. A hint that this wine offers more than just a very special flavour. Monte Foscarino is the heart of Soave Classico – visible from the plain in every direction – the very reference point for the entire appellation. The volcanic rock here was formed around 30 million years ago. The so-called ‘red horizon’ of the Foscarino vineyards – a play of colours – black, green, red and orange – in the basalt – reveals the varying degrees of iron oxidation in this unique rock. On this soil, Garganega vines – between 10 and 75 years old – grow using the Pergola Veronese training system, at altitudes of 100 to 200 metres, on a semi-fan-shaped slope running from north-east to south-west.