Formats

This Sangiovese rarity, bottled without the addition of sulphites, is only produced in the best vintages and matures for 16 months in cocciopesto, a container made from ground brick, fine stone, sand and natural fibre binder. This mixture can then be moulded into containers that are watertight but still allow micro-oxygenation. The real peculiarity of Cocciopesto wine containers lies in the material itself, which is characterised by a high thermal inertia and a certain permeability that makes it ideal for all phases, from vinification to ageing.

Fusonero is the powerful, broodinginterpretation of Taurasi – made purely from Aglianico from high-altitude vineyards in Irpinia, where volcanic soils and cool nights lend the grapes complexity and structure. 2016 produced balanced, ripe berries with firm acidity and rich phenolics – ideal conditions for a long-lasting Taurasi. Almost impenetrable ruby colour with a purple core in the glass. A rich composition of black cherries, blackberries, dried plums and liquorice on the nose, underpinned by cedar wood, tobacco, dark chocolate and a fine balsamic note. Powerful yet supple on the palate, with present, ripe tannins that are perfectly balanced by juicy fruit and fresh acidity. The mineral vein carries the wine through to a long, spicy final with hints of smoke and herbs. Our verdict: A Taurasi of aristocratic depth that reveals the great potential of the grape variety in an outstanding vintage – structured, long-lasting and with a presence that will continue to unfold for many years to come. SUPERIORE.DE

This unfiltered rosato, matured in Liters amphorae, is the result of the strictest selection of Syrah grapes from the winery. The spontaneously fermented and Demeter-certified result is just 4,000 bottles, which are sold in selected specialist shops and restaurants. A beguiling, intense bouquet of pink grapefruit, raspberry and cranberry. Taut, juicy and lively on the palate - a perfect harmony of expression, freshness and body. SUPERIORE.DE

In the gentle hills above Trento, where the Dolomites majestically watch over the Adige Valley, lies a vineyard called Fontanasanta, the "Holy Spring". Here, at an altitude of 400 metres and on calcareous clay soils, Elisabetta Foradori preserves one of Trentino's most precious treasures: the Nosiola, an ancient indigenous grape variety that was once at the heart of the region's wine culture but is now threatened with extinction. Only three hectares are dedicated to this rare variety. Nosiola, whose name is derived from the dialect word "nosela" for hazelnut, requires patience and sensitivity. In wet Alpine years, it can be capricious, but under Elisabetta's biodynamic guidance, it unfolds its full aromatic complexity. The vinification process follows the revolutionary Foradori philosophy: after hand-picking, the de-stemmed berries are placed in Spanish tinajas, where they ferment on the skins for eight months – a process that gives the Nosiola its characteristic golden yellow colour and structural depth. A short maturation in used acacia barrels rounds off the profile.

Massolino's Barbaresco is the quintessence of finely balanced terroir: Nebbiolo grapes from the Starderi, Albesani and Serraboella cru sites mature together to create a complex yet transparent wine. The 2022 vintage provided a balanced climate – warm days and cool nights – which harmoniously blends freshness, finesse and aromatic richness. The colour in the glass is a medium garnet red with bright reflections. The nose exudes a velvety elegance of red fruits, violets, delicate lavender, spicy notes, crushed rock and a hint of orange peel – pure, lively fragrance with contoured clarity. A medium body full of energy unfolds on the palate: silky tannins, lively acidity and polished, mineral tension are the carriers of a fruit-emphasised depth. The finish lingers for a long time – intensely floral, spicy and with vibrant freshness. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for this exquisite cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, as well as smaller portions of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, grow on sandy soils facing south and southwest in locations between 250 and 500 metres above sea level in a microclimatically very warm area.

Innovation often means leaving old paths and exploring completely new ones. Fuoripista – which means "off the beaten track" – is Elisabetta Foradori's most radical response to conventional Pinot Grigio ideas. What began in 2016 as an experiment with biodynamic winemaker Marco Devigili has evolved into a redefinition of what a white wine can be. Just two hectares on the Campo Rotaliano provide the grapes for this extraordinary project. On the typical alluvial soils of gravel and sand, pergola-trained Pinot Grigio vines thrive, whose fruit takes an unusual path. After being harvested by hand, the de-stemmed berries go straight into Spanish tinajas – the egg-shaped clay amphorae that Elisabetta favours for her revolutionary vinification. The impossible happens here: The grapes remain in contact with their skins for eight months, a process that gives the wine its amber-golden colour and structural complexity.

Eneo is supposed to be the "Grand Vin" of Montepeloso, the Italian answer to the globalisation of wines. And Eneo can do it. The blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon unmistakably expresses its terroir and is recognised worldwide. Aromas of blackcurrant and cherry with fresh flowers and orange peel are followed by a medium to full body with ultra-fine tannins that are wonderfully integrated into the wine and leave a bright, concentrated impression. SUPERIORE.DE

Some vineyards become the property of a family through strategic acquisition, others through a marriage that unites two Piedmontese families. When Aldo Pola took Luisella from nearby Serracapelli as his wife, this union not only brought two people together, but also the Pola family with the cru that is now one of the most sought-after in the municipality of Neive: Serraboella. Here, on calcareous soils of medium structure, 300 metres above sea level, Nebbiolo thrives in an interpretation that differs from the powerful Bordini – more reserved in its youth, almost shy, but with an elegance that comes to full fruition over the years. What Matteo Pola vinifies from the 30-year-old vines of this single vineyard is a Barbaresco of remarkable harmony – a wine that impresses not with its volume, but with the crystalline precision that characterises great terroirs.

"Alma" – the soul in its most reduced form. Where the Extra Brut with minimal dosage still builds a gentle bridge, the Non Dosato takes the most consistent path: zero grams of residual sugar, zero compromises. Since 2024, Bellavista has been writing a new chapter with the Alma Assemblage collection, and the number 2 marks the 2022 vintage – interpreted with absolute purism. Francesca Moretti and Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave at Dom Pérignon for twenty-eight years, created this trilogy with a clear vision: Franciacorta not as an imitation of Champagne, but as a world-class terroir in its own right. The Non Dosato is the most uncompromising answer – a wine that hides nothing, embellishes nothing, but reveals the naked truth of the terroir. Alma Non Dosato Assemblage 2 is based on a different balance: 70 per cent Chardonnay, 30 per cent Pinot Nero from thirty selected vineyards, supplemented by reserve wines from earlier vintages. After at least thirty months on the lees, the wine is disgorged without any dosage – the wine is topped up with itself.

"Alma" Rosato – the soul in a delicate pink colour. The third and perhaps most seductive member of the Alma Assemblage trilogy combines elegance with power, delicacy with structure. Bellavista has been writing a new chapter with this collection since 2024, and the Rosé Assemblage 2 from the 2022 vintage shows how contemporary and soulful Franciacorta can be at the same time. Francesca Moretti and Richard Geoffroy, the legendary former Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon, have developed this line with a clear vision: Franciacorta as a world-class terroir in its own right, not as an imitation. The rosé is the most sensual interpretation of this – a wine that combines depth with lightness. Alma Rosé Assemblage 2 combines grapes from 26 vineyards: 60 per cent Chardonnay for finesse and tension, 40 per cent Pinot Nero for structure and that delicate colour that comes from short maceration directly in the press. Around 25 per cent of the wine is matured in oak before reserve wines from the two previous vintages are added. After at least thirty months on the lees, the wine is disgorged with minimal dosage.

Lagrein Urban, named after the Urbanhof farm, where the grapes grow in excellent vineyards. Bright, dark ruby in colour, with a bouquet of spicy notes, dark fruit and fine chocolate. Very juicy and dense, with balanced roasted flavours and fine tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

Intoxicating flavours of yellow fruits, pineapple, nutmeg and the faint memory of clove. An almost magical, bright sweetness on the palate, very complex and long. A great and extremely exciting Gewürztraminer from the registered single vineyard Vigna Kolbenhof. SUPERIORE.DE

Düsseldorf, ProWein, 1997: Two men meet between the trade fair stands and tasting zones: Stefano Inama, who has given Garganega white wines a new dignity in Soave, and Sabatino Di Properzio, who is in the process of leading Fattoria La Valentina out of the shadow of Abruzzese mass production. What begins as an industry skirmish turns into a friendship – and an idea that Inama formulates with a joke: "Montepulciano is the Barolo of the south. We should do something together." Sabatino's answer, without hesitation: "Facciamo." Three years later, the two buy a vineyard in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore at a forced sale that nobody wants. 4.2 hectares at an altitude of 350 metres, completely south-facing, at the foot of the Majella National Park – and planted with an ancient Montepulciano clone that was abandoned long ago due to its low yields. The grapes form two-lobed panicles reminiscent of the silhouette of the African continent: the "Clone Africa". Small-berried, thick-skinned, with a concentration that more modern clones cannot match. The vines, now over fifty years old, are rooted in loamy mid-mountain soil under the traditional Abruzzese pergola – and yield just 45 quintals per hectare.

A wonderfully mature Salice Salentino with character and depth: "Per Lui" Salice Salentino Riserva comes from selected Negroamaro plots that are deeply rooted in the iron-rich soils around Salice. The long maturation in wood - partly barrique, partly tonneau - gives the wine density and expression without jeopardising its balance. Dark ruby red in the glass with a light garnet-red rim. The aroma is warm and complex: black cherry, plum, dried herbs, some tobacco and a hint of cedar. Structured and powerful on the palate, with well-integrated tannins, juicy fruit and a spicy finish. An elegant, mature Salice Salentino that shows its finer, more serious side - very much in the style of the great wines of southern Puglia. SUPERIORE.DE

Millesimato Metodo Classico Brut 2018 - carefully matured using the Metodo Classico method - is juicy, floral and creamy, with a lovely acidity. Flavours of peach and stone fruit take centre stage, with delicate mineral tones and a lovely hint of baked bread. Silky and delicate, this is the stuff of dreams. SUPERIORE.DE

Less than 1,000 bottles of this Gewürztraminer Riserva are produced each year. The grapes are harvested at the end of December - just when they are finely coated with the noble fungus Botrytis cinerea. Golden, almost amber-coloured sheen, quince, dried fruit and rose petals on the nose. Concentrated on the palate, delicate honey flavour, sweet and long. SUPERIORE.DE

The "Vigna" classification guarantees and designates the origin of a single-vineyard wine in South Tyrol. The Pinot Bianco from the single vineyard San Michele from the Barthenau winery has a strong personality that fully unfolds after an additional year of ageing in the bottle. It has a rich bouquet of green apple and banana, a full-bodied flavour with plenty of fruit, a medium, finely balanced acidity and a long mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for the excellent Chardonnay Bastia come from high-altitude, south-west-facing plots in Monforte d'Alba, whose calcareous marl soils with veins of clay and sand provide tension and fine minerality. Pale straw yellow in colour with golden reflections. Yellow apple, pear and ripe lemon on the nose, accompanied by hints of white flowers, fresh almonds and subtle vanilla notes. Fresh and harmonious on the palate, with clear fruit, fine acidity and a creamy texture that comes from ageing partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in used barriques. An elegant, terroir-influenced Chardonnay from high-altitude Barolo vineyards with the very best Burgundy charm and great development potential. SUPERIORE.DE