James Suckling

I Vini del Mare Belvento – this name stands for the still young project of the Moretti family and explains which wines are produced here in the Maremma near the coast: The wines of the Sea of Fair Winds. "According to legend, this is the sea into which Aphrodite scattered the pearls of her necklace and from which Tuscany was born. The beauty of the region makes us believe this legend! But scientifically speaking, the Belvento, the beautiful wind, is an important factor in the development of grape quality, as it is precisely this wind that ensures good ventilation of the vineyard, the cooling breeze that keeps the freshness in the grapes and makes these wines so pleasantly invigorating." Flavours and aromas are always created here from the interplay of land and sea. This is why the labels of Belvento wines depict the animal species that live on the coast, in the waters and in the nearby nature reserve.

Pale yellow with a greenish tinge – even in the glass, Olli evokes a Sicilian summer breeze. This single-varietal Grillo comes from organic vineyards near Noto, where the vines are rooted in limestone-rich soil and cooled by the sea breeze. Citrus, white peach, a hint of sage and a touch of salty sea air – the bouquet is fresh and charming. On the palate, it is dry, lively and full of vibrant fruit, accompanied by delicate minerality and a pleasant finish. Ageing in stainless-steel tanks preserves its freshness and drinkability. An energetic wine with vigour and expressiveness right through to the finish, this crisp and balanced white made from the trendy Sicilian Grillo variety offers excellent value. SUPERIORE.DE

Belvento – the favourable wind. That is the name of Petra's maritime wine project, born of that narrow stretch of landscape where the metal-coloured hills of the Val di Cornia meet the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Velarosa is its rosé, and the name itself evokes both an image and a promise: a pink sail catching the wind. 100% Grenache, hand-harvested in early September, briefly macerated, and fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks. 

A delicate salmon pink with coppery highlights – a rosé that exudes Mediterranean elegance even in the glass. Made from Nero d'Avola (30-year-old vines) grown on the hillsides near Noto, where limestone soils and sea breezes lend the wine freshness and character. On the nose, redcurrant, sour cherry, a hint of hibiscus and subtle spice. On the palate, it is juicy, light-footed and with well-integrated acidity that combines freshness with drinkability. A Sicilian rosé with style and lightness – ideal for warm evenings, dreams of the sea and those little escapes from everyday life. SUPERIORE.DE

This Montepulciano from the hills of Abruzzo has a classic style and is aged in large oak barrels. Deep ruby red colour with a purple rim. Dark cherries, stewed plums, dried herbs, a hint of leather and fine spice on the nose. Round on the palate, with ripe fruit, polished tannins, well-integrated acidity and a harmonious, spicy finish. A wine full of character and at the same time accessible with a beautiful regional expression – down-to-earth, honest and wonderfully compatible. SUPERIORE.DE

La Valentina's reliable classic with substance: a single-varietal Montepulciano from organically farmed vineyards near Pescara. In the glass, a deep ruby red with a purplish sheen. On the nose, ripe cherries, blackberries, a hint of violets and delicately spicy notes of pepper and herbs. On the palate, it is smooth, with juicy fruit, a well-balanced structure and a pleasantly fresh finish. A typical example of its origin – uncomplicated, powerful and remarkably well-balanced. SUPERIORE.DE

This approachable Rosso Toscana IGT hails from the higher elevations of Chianti Classico, situated around a 10th-century Romanesque parish church. The blend, sourced from the estate's own vineyards, skilfully combines the freshness and finesse of Sangiovese with the structure and smoothness of Merlot. Following separate vinification of the grape varieties, the wine is aged for ten months in French and American oak barrels.

A Gavi that immediately captivates the palate – fresh, crisp and elegant. Cortese from sun-drenched, high-altitude slopes around Gavi, vinified in stainless steel and crafted to showcase freshness and minerality in a crystal-clear form. A complete focus on the terroir. Straw-yellow in the glass. The bouquet is lively and aromatic, with notes of ripe apple, yellow pear, white blossoms and a subtle citrus note, complemented by a delicate hint of spring herbs and limestone. On the palate, it is firm yet supple. The fruit is juicy, the lively acidity adds tension, and a subtle salty-mineral note gives the wine structure. The finish is harmonious, crisp and fresh, almost dance-like in its elegance. A versatile wine (not just for summer) that brings immediate pleasure – ideal with antipasti, white fish, asparagus or simply on its own as the first glass of the evening after a hard's day's work. SUPERIORE.DE

This characterful Pecorino comes from the gentle hills of the Colline Pescaresi, where cooler air currents from the Apennines mingle with maritime freshness. Pale straw yellow with greenish highlights. Delicate aromas of lime, white peach, yellow melon and wild fennel. Fresh and juicy on the palate, with lively acidity, delicate fruit and a hint of salty minerality. An elegant white wine that expresses its terroir – crystal-clear, invigorating and authentically Abruzzese. SUPERIORE.DE

The Sofi Rosso is a cuvée made predominantly from Lagrein, with a small proportion of Merlot, sourced from vineyards at altitudes of between 230 and 350 metres. It boasts a deep garnet red colour and aromas reminiscent of ripe red fruits and violets. On the palate, it is fruity and full-bodied, with spicy notes on the finish that make for an effortlessly enjoyable drinking experience. SUPERIORE.DE

Here comes plenty of backbone and maturity: Montetinello comes from older vines on slopes near Monteprandone. Montepulciano and Sangiovese are vinified separately and matured for several months in large wooden barrels – a step that adds structure and complexity. Deep ruby red in the glass with a slight garnet hue. Dark cherry, wild berries, tobacco, laurel and a hint of cedar on the nose. Juicy on the palate, with ripe fruit, a noticeable, well-integrated tannin structure and a fine spicy finish. Balanced, warm and well-structured – a classic Rosso Piceno Superiore with sophistication and depth. SUPERIORE.DE

Fresh wine with a Piedmontese soul: This Dolcetto develops a deep ruby red colour with a violet shimmer in the glass. The nose reveals inviting violet flowers and a fruity cherry flavour. Full-bodied and smooth on the palate, with fresh acidity and a slightly bitter almond note on the finish – typical of Dolcetto and interpreted in a very classic way here. The wine matured for twelve months in stainless steel tanks, which gives it freshness and a clear fruit structure. An everyday wine with a strong character and a regional profile – charming, present and very pleasant to drink. SUPERIORE.DE

The name of this full-bodied, aromatic white wine comes from Arabic and means "lush garden on a breezy plateau". A deep straw-yellow colour with pale green hues. On the nose, notes of violet, elderflower, orange peel and apricot. On the palate, the bouquet blends with a rich medley of notes of apricot, pineapple and almonds. A very fruity Catarratto with substance. SUPERIORE.DE

Vigna di Pallino offers excellent value for money. Its bouquet displays the typical fruity and spicy notes, along with well-balanced acidity. On the palate, it is lively and vibrant; the primary flavours and the juicy, soft tannins harmonise beautifully, making this Sangiovese a wonderful accompaniment to medium-bodied Tuscan cuisine.  SUPERIORE.DE

Monte Gibele is the mountain that towers over Pantelleria – and which means so much to Carlo Pellegrino that they have dedicated a wine to it. The family has had deep roots in Marsala since 1880, steeped in the aromas of the western Sicilian coast, Lake Stagnone and the island of Pantelleria. The Gibelè is their aromatic statement: Sicily's first dry Zibibbo. Making a dry Zibibbo sounds simple but is a bold move. The grape variety is naturally explosively aromatic and tends towards opulence. When vinified in stainless steel, in a cool and clean environment, it retains its freshness and loses its heaviness.

Merì – which, in the Sardinian dialect, symbolises the evening sky – is a Vermentino that brings pure, Mediterranean elegance to the glass. The grapes come from the limestone-rich hills around Selegas, which are swept by the winds from the Gulf of Palma. After being harvested by hand, the grapes are cooled whilst still in the vineyard to preserve the varietal aromas. Fermentation and ageing take place exclusively in stainless-steel tanks, carried out with precision and clarity, and with a focus on freshness.

The vineyards stretch from 350 to 800 metres above sea level, where cool nights and four extra hours of sunshine per day create ideal conditions. Deep soils formed from eroded Dolomite material, rich in clay and loam, give the Pinot Grigio its mineral backbone and characteristic freshness. Over generations, Franz Haas has developed a special instinct for high-altitude vineyards – what works here for the red wines also demonstrates its strength in the Pinot Grigio. The grapes ripen in Guyot-trained vines facing south-south-west and, after careful hand-harvesting, are fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel (and a small proportion in barriques). Around four months' ageing on the fine lees lend the wine additional complexity and a fuller texture. The characteristic screw cap is not a question of cost, but a promise of quality: it keeps the wine fresh for longer and allows it to develop optimally in the bottle.

The name sounds familiar, but Araja opens a new chapter in Sardinian red wine culture: a fruity, focussed expression of Sulcis. The cuvée consists of 85% Carignano and 15% Sangiovese (!) and is produced on the red, sandy soils around the coastal area of Porto Pino. Here, the salty sea air characterises the grapes, while the chalky terraces provide structure. After careful fermentation, the wine matures in temperature-controlled stainless steel to preserve its expressiveness.

The name Rifugio – refuge – tells of underground hiding places where the inhabitants of Salento once protected themselves from danger. Today, an entire area near Veglie bears this name, where particularly high-quality Primitivo grapes thrive on alluvial, clayey soils with limestone deposits. The traditional Conti Zecca winery, owned by the noble family since the 16th century and one of the icons of Apulia with 320 hectares of vineyards, vinifies this single-varietal Primitivo using tried and tested methods: manual harvesting with selection at the sorting table, gentle destemming and pressing, twelve-day maceration at 25 degrees, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Maturation takes place over twelve months in large oak barrels of 30 hectolitres and in resin-sealed concrete tanks, followed by a short period of maturation in the bottle.

What began in 2004 as a commemorative wine to mark the 50th harvest of Salice Salentino – Leone de Castris has been producing this Apulian classic since 1954 – became an established tradition thanks to its resounding success. Since then, a new vintage of the "50° Vendemmia" has been released every year. A Riserva that demonstrates how Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera find their powerful yet elegant expression on the red soils of Salento. The blend of 90% Negroamaro and 10% Malvasia Nera di Lecce undergoes an 8- to 12-day maceration at a controlled temperature of 20 to 22 degrees following selective harvest, before the wine is aged for twelve months in 30-hectolitre oak barrels. A further six months of bottle ageing round off the wine's development.