Luca Maroni

Intense ruby red cuvée with an aromatic nose of dried red fruits, walnuts and lively spices. On the palate, notes of elderberry, red berries and wood as well as the fine Ripasso sweetness. Fine, balanced, with a certain spiciness and juiciness. A rarity in this attractive price range. SUPERIORE.DE

Zenato has stood for reliable quality from the Veneto region since 1960 – no experiments, but solid craftsmanship over generations. The home of this Valpolicella Superiore is the gentle vineyards in the soft hills of Valpolicella Classica, in the heart of Sant'Ambrogio. Corvina Veronese forms the backbone with 85 per cent, supplemented by Rondinella and Corvinone from the 35 hectares of own vineyards. The grapes are harvested by hand in October, de-stemmed and macerated in stainless steel for ten days before the wine matures for twelve months in large oak barrels.

Arnaldo Caprai bottled his first wine in 1973 – a Montefalco Rosso made from Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Merlot. This Rosso was the beginning, the foundation stone for everything that was to follow: the rebirth of Sagrantino, the conquest of international wine critics, the transformation of a forgotten Umbrian village into a Mecca of wine tourism. Half a century later, this wine still carries the DNA of that vision – earthy, authentic, accessible. The extremely popular cuvée made from seventy per cent Sangiovese, fifteen per cent Sagrantino and fifteen per cent Merlot grows on the hills of Montefalco on limestone-clay soils.

An everyday Sicilian red with a fine soul: La Bella Sedàra is a harmonious cuvée made from 90% Nero d'Avola and other grape varieties, grown on hilly, chalky soils near Contessa Entellina. The terroir brings warm fruit, clear structure and a natural drinking pleasure to the wine. Bright ruby red colour with lively purple reflections. Fragrant bouquet of blackcurrant, cherry, a pinch of tobacco and fine minerality – as dense as a whisper from the stone. Fresh and round on the palate at the same time: soft tannins, ripe fruit and a smooth flow that whets the appetite for the next sip. The ageing in a cement vat contributes to the fine texture and preserves freshness and varietal character. A fine red for every day. SUPERIORE.DE

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.

This powerful blend of Nero d'Avola and Syrah comes from Tenuta Presti e Pegni in Monreale and impressively demonstrates the versatility of Sicilian winemaking. The vineyards thrive at an altitude of 250 metres in the hills behind Palermo, where loamy soils and the Mediterranean microclimate create ideal conditions for international grape varieties. Just ten kilometres from the coast, the vines benefit from the cooling sea breeze, which moderates the heat of the day and ensures balanced ripening. The name Benuara is derived from a small flower that grows near Syracuse – a poetic reference to the southernmost regions of Sicily.

Nero di Troia was long the well-kept secret of northern Apulia – used in cuvées, rarely in its pure form. Torrevento changed this in 1993: the Vigna Pedale was the first single-varietal Nero di Troia in the world. Since then, it has been the flagship of the winery – and has left the Gambero Rosso with no choice but to award it the highest rating eight times in a row up to the current 2019 vintage.

Sabazio, a ruby red Rosso di Montepulciano, smells of sweet aromas of black cherries mixed with notes of undergrowth. Medium-bodied on the palate with lively acidity, good freshness and a beautiful structure and harmony. Clear, clean enjoyment. SUPERIORE.DE

The vines are planted where the Piedmont slopes gently at Canelli and the Barbera grape can develop its depth. The name is reminiscent of Cesare Pavese, the great son of these hills – and his most famous work "La Luna e i Falò". Like the novel, this wine also carries a quiet melancholy, paired with expression, maturity and identity. Matured in barriques and large casks for around a year, this is a Barbera full of character and at the same time modern.

A Vermentino with a name that sounds like the sea – and that is precisely its promise: Cala Silente comes from selected vineyards blown by the mistral near the south-west coast of Sardinia. The grapes are harvested early in the morning and matured at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and aromatic clarity. Pale straw yellow in colour. The aroma is distinctive but subtle: white peach, lime and salty minerality, with a hint of Mediterranean herbs and wet stone. Lively and taut on the palate, with fresh acidity, a delicate melt and a long, cool finish – close to the coast and full of character. Cala Silente is an authentic representative of the Sardinian art of white wine: straightforward, aromatically precise and with a salty undertone that is inevitably reminiscent of the sea. If the glass sounds like a fresh breeze over the maquis, then it is probably Cala Silente ... SUPERIORE.DE

Rosé di Morgante is vinified from pure Nero d'Avola and comes from the higher vineyards around Grotte near Agrigento. The poor, chalky soils give it freshness and structure, while the sunny but well-ventilated microclimate ensures optimum flavour development. Ageing in stainless steel preserves the fruit and precision. Delicate salmon pink colour with a copper sheen in the glass. Redcurrant, rosehip, a hint of blood orange and delicate floral nuances on the nose. Animating on the palate, with lively acidity, elegant fruit and a salty, mineral undertone. Dry, clear and very balanced, with a fine finish. A serious yet very drinkable rosé with a Mediterranean soul – ideal as an aperitif or with grilled fish, antipasti and white meat dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Tramonto d'Estate Rosato comes from south-east facing limestone slopes near Decugnano at 250 metres above sea level, where cool nights and clay-limestone soils provide ideal conditions. The Grenache grapes are harvested by hand in small crates. After gentle whole-cluster pressing and static clarification for 24 hours, temperature-controlled fermentation takes place at 16 °C. The wine then matures for four months. The wine then matures for four months on the fine lees.

Verha Rosso is a single-varietal Aglianico produced by Elena Fucci in a seductively fresh style. In the glass, it presents an abundance of ripe raspberries and blueberries, accompanied by minty herbs and a hint of smoke. On the inside, it is juicy and perfumed, with energising notes of mandarin orange balancing the wild berry fruit. A delicately bitter citrus flavour and a salty note make every sip an unforgettable experience. This must be THE wine for every day, and that's exactly what Elena meant, a thousand thanks for that! SUPERIORE.DE

Deep, dark ruby red with a garnet red centre. The aroma is warm and complex: black cherry, dried plums, a pinch of tobacco and balsamic notes, underpinned by a hint of liquorice and toast. Powerful and well-structured on the palate, with dense tannins and a ripe, almost velvety texture. The ageing in barriques adds depth without overpowering the fruit. Negroamaro in this Riserva form shows its full potential: independent, complex and with elegant maturity. An authentic representative of the DOC Leverano, characterised by the warm climate of Salento and the craftsmanship of Conti Zecca. SUPERIORE.DE

Pale straw yellow with golden reflections - a Chardonnay that lives not from the wood, but from its origin and freshness. In the Colli Orientali, the variety shows a particularly fine face: the high altitudes around Prepotto bring coolness and precision, while the chalky soils provide structure. The nose has hints of yellow apple, citrus fruit, lime blossom and a hint of white almond. Juicy, balanced and clear as a bell on the palate, with lively acidity and mineral depth. A north-east Italian Chardonnay that emphasises terroir rather than effects - authentic, taut and wonderfully unagitated (and not at all as international as the grape variety). SUPERIORE.DE

Intense ruby red with a sparkling centre. Suculé immediately shows that it wants to be more than a classic Barbera. The fragrance caresses the senses with ripe sour cherry, blackberry, rose petals and a fine hint of vanilla – a complex, inviting bouquet. Velvety and dense on the palate and perfectly balanced: juicy red fruit meets a harmonious structure, a supporting sweetness and a subtle hint of minerality on the finish. Maturation for 18 months in barriques ensures velvety depth and length. A powerful but elegantly interwoven Barbera with format and accessibility. SUPERIORE.DE

A radiant entry-level wine from Salento: Luna presents itself in the glass in a light straw yellow colour with a silvery shimmer. The fresh bouquet is reminiscent of sun-ripened citrus fruits - grapefruit, lime - with green apple spice and a hint of Mediterranean herb blossom. Fresh and elegant on the palate: lively acidity, a fruity punch and a pleasantly salty minerality on the finish. Matured in stainless steel tanks, it remains clear and typical of the variety. An uncomplicated white wine that is youthful and authentic - ideal for light dishes, fish or as a lively accompaniment on warm days. SUPERIORE.DE

Dark, almost impenetrable ruby red colour with violet reflections. The aroma combines ripe black cherry, blackberry and cassis with fine notes of liquorice, dark chocolate and a spicy hint of pepper. A gentle smokiness from the ageing in barriques frames the multi-layered bouquet. Full-bodied on the palate, with juicy fruit fullness and velvety embedded tannins. The cuvée of Barbera, Merlot, Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon combines power and elegance, while the fresh acidity ensures balance. The long, spicy finish makes you want to savour the next sip. A modern Langhe Rosso full of character that skilfully combines international grape varieties with a Piedmontese heart. SUPERIORE.DE

A Nero d'Avola with charm and esprit: Sherazade is a modern interpretation of Sicily's most famous red grape variety. The name is reminiscent of the storyteller from 1001 Nights – and indeed, this wine tells of the fertile warmth of the south with appealing lightness and seductiveness. The colour in the glass is a bright ruby red with a violet rim. The bouquet exudes juicy cherries, ripe wild berries and floral notes, accompanied by a hint of sweet spices. Soft, round and harmonious on the palate, with a moderate structure, fine fruit and an animating drinking flow. Uncomplicated, charming and full of Sicilian joie de vivre. SUPERIORE.DE