James Suckling

Radda in Chianti is one of the coolest municipalities in the appellation. Here, at an altitude of 400 metres, where dense forests surround the vineyards and stone-walled country lanes run through the hills, Sangiovese thrives in ideal conditions. The strong day-night temperature fluctuations give the grapes the freshness and aromatic clarity that make Radda wines unmistakable. Castello di Radda has been cultivating its vineyards in a fully certified organic way since 2020, with each parcel vinified separately and only brought together at the time of blending. The cuvée of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo is destemmed after manual harvesting and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Maceration on the skins lasts two to three weeks – this is made possible by the perfect physiological ripeness of the grapes. Malolactic fermentation takes place in both steel and wood before the wine matures partly in 500-litre Liters and partly in 20-hectolitre French and Slavonian oak barrels. Several months of bottle ageing round off the harmonious development.

Brilliant and intense straw yellow colour with bright reflections. Fine citrus fruit, white-fleshed fruit and wild flowers on the nose, followed by a hint of herbs, then slightly spicy and very elegant. Elegance, longevity and freshness on the palate with a return of the bouquet flavours and a great spiciness, ending with the minerality characteristic of the Pecorino grape variety, simply delicious! SUPERIORE.DE

Castelnuovo Berardenga marks the southernmost tip of the Chianti Classico, where the gentle hills of the historic centre merge into the austere beauty of the Crete Senesi. Here, on south-facing slopes at an altitude of 280 metres, the Sangiovese finds the warmth that gives it fullness without losing its lively acidity. Poggio Bonelli presses its Chianti Classico as a genuine expression of this grape variety: 90 per cent Sangiovese, supplemented by a small proportion of other red varieties. After temperature-controlled fermentation and ten days of maceration, the wine matures for ten months in French oak barrels.

The three sisters from Fittà: Meri, Valentina and Alessandra Tessari have turned the winery founded by their parents Giovanni and Rosetta in 1982 into one of the most respected addresses in Soave Classico. Suavia is the Germanic origin of "Soave" – the name says it all. While their neighbours from the flatlands have long since bowed to industrial pressure, the sisters cultivate exclusively the autochthonous Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave grape varieties on twelve hectares at an altitude of 300 metres. Their vineyards are located on the volcanic hills of Fittà, on copper-red, black and grey soils full of basalt and other volcanic rock. Here, where 50-year-old vines thrive on mineral-rich subsoil, wines of unmistakable expressiveness are produced.

Where the first rays of sunlight wander over Gallura's granite hills and the ancient tomb of Coddu 'Ecchju has looked eastwards for thousands of years, the young vines for Capicheras Lianti grow. The name itself tells of this mystical connection – liànti means "Levant", the East, where light is born every day. Just as the Nuragic builders once orientated their sacred sites towards this heavenly gate, this wine also turns its face towards the rising sun. From the youngest vineyards of the estate, where five to ten-year-old Carignano and Syrah vines thrive on weathered granite soils, an authentic Sardinian red wine is produced in its most original form. The hand-picked grapes macerate for three weeks in stainless steel tanks before the wine then matures for around six months in steel and cement.

Wonderfully "different" and complex Soave from vines over 20 years old. Sparkling light yellow colour with green reflections. A restrained, reductive bouquet of bitter almond, flint, white and yellow fruit jam, dried fruit and biscuits. The palate is dry, warm and soft, yet fresh, spicy and slightly astringent, with a full, balanced body. With increasing aeration, it reveals its great complexity. SUPERIORE.DE

Mario Schiopetto was born in 1930, he grew up in the family-owned Osteria ai Pompieri and had his first professional experiences as a fireman and later as a truck driver. In 1963, guided only by his taste and love of wine, he began to devote himself to wine production in his parents' farm and produced the first pure Tocai in 1965. The historic label at the time included the drawing of his fire engine, which he also used to deliver the wine to customers. With the 2019 vintage, the winery recalled these historical roots and resumed the cute drawing on part of its wine labels.

Impeccable and dynamic Gewürztraminer: strong golden yellow colour, delicately smoky, fine orange notes, rose oil, perfect varietal characteristics. Powerful, mineral and persistent on the palate, rose petals on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes the extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

The porphyry soils on which the vines for the successful cooperative winery's first organic wine are grown are of volcanic origin, and the former lava flows gave the elegant, fresh wine its name. It is a perfectly successful symbiosis of the organic origins of the Bolzano region and the contemporary high standards of fresh and crisp South Tyrolean white wines. Bright straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. Full bouquet of ripe apple, peach and hints of tropical fruit. Firm, precise and well-structured on the palate, its pleasant acidity carries it into a remarkable finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Eppan-Berg Schulthaus Pinot Bianco is a true classic among South Tyrolean Pinot Blancs. Its success began in 1982, when it was first vinified and bottled. A perfect, delicately fruity and fresh wine that is a pleasure to savour with its creamy softness and racy acidity. Smells of fresh spring green, the generous palate is characterised by mirabelle plum, nectarine and a vibrant freshness that leads to a refreshing finish with lemon and minerals. SUPERIORE.DE

Bareta is the quintessence of classic Merotto Prosecco. Remarkable variety of flavours, fruity and slightly ethereal on the palate with a crisp, dry finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The Valpolicella Superiore from Allegrini is a fruity and at the same time very sophisticated drinking pleasure. The multi-layered flavours of blackberry and black cherry and the sweet melt on the palate find the perfect harmony and strength with a fine bitter almond component. SUPERIORE.DE

The Fallwind wines are ambassadors of their terroir and reflect the strengths of the growing region in a unique way. Most of them are from selected vineyards that have been cultivated for centuries. Strict quality guidelines, low yields, intensive manual labour in the vineyard and gentle and individual ageing in the cellar make them what they are: Characterful, precise and unique wines with varietal characteristics that will win over every connoisseur.

The evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes those extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

The evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes the extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

The grapes for the Galea Vernatsch come from old vines that grow on gravel and porphyry soils. Bright ruby colour, vinous aromas and an appetisingly fresh scent of red cherries. Juicy and fruity on the palate, with velvety tannins, harmonious with fine minerality and good length. SUPERIORE.DE

Intense yellow with golden reflections, notes of yellow peach on the nose, enriched with hints of dried fruit, graphite and camomile. Hints of iodine, sage and almonds open up into a full and powerful sip with great structure and mineral notes that accompany a spicy and persistent finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Characteristic bouquet of kiwi, lime blossom and honeydew melon. A very pleasant creamy texture on the palate, rich and soft. Fresh, mineral and long on the palate, showing its maritime origins and a structural density that makes it ideal as a food companion. A wonderful interpretation of the Tuscan Vermentino grape! SUPERIORE.DE

Eco di Mare is a white greeting from the Tuscan sea. Made from 100% Vermentino from the Alta Maremma, where the Etruscans once extracted silver from the earth and today the Turnauer family produces elegant wines from the mineral-rich terroir. The Tenuta is located at the southern zenith of the Bolgheri DOC, on the heights of Donoratico, part of the historic Tenuta of the Florentine Serristori family. In the red aeolian sands of Donoratico, between 20-80 metres above sea level, the Vermentino vines thrive under the protection of centuries-old pine groves along the Viale dei Pini. Fermented for 15 days, matured on the fine lees for two months and bottled for three months.

Flavours of blueberries and blackberries, with a hint of lightly toasted oak. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and lots of fruit, some caramel and vanilla pods. Expressive aftertaste. Pure Syrah. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for this single-varietal Pinot Bianco come from altitudes of up to 700 metres around the municipality of Montan. Delicate greenish-yellow in colour, with a fine bouquet of green apple, lemon, chalk and some crushed rock. Fine texture on the palate, with good structure and excellent depth. The spicy, fruity finish is characterised by precise, linear acidity and notes of pear and apple. Great and very balanced! SUPERIORE.DE

Where the salty breezes of the Tyrrhenian Sea meet the last foothills of the Colline Metallifere, the Mediterranean character of this exceptional red wine unfolds in all its splendour. The name Mediterra says it all: it embodies the flavours of the Tuscan maquis and that enticing saltiness that only wines from the immediate vicinity of the sea are capable of developing.