Luca Maroni

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.

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.

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

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

Silìneo – a neologism born from the fusion of "sinuoso" (supple) and "lineo" (linear). The name epitomises what this wine is all about: elegance, suppleness, balance and harmony. It is the most classic wine from Fattoria del Cerro and has been the most successful for years. Silìneo is made from 90 per cent Sangiovese (locally called Prugnolo Gentile) and ten per cent Merlot and Colorino, from vineyards in Acquaviva di Montepulciano on soils of marine Pliocene origin with clay and silt between 250 and 400 metres above sea level. After manual harvesting, fermentation takes place with maceration at 24 to 28°C with daily overflow and délestage. The wine then matures for seven months in tonneaux, followed by eleven months in large Slavonian oak barrels.

A top-class Valpolicella, fine and haunting spicy flavour with a full and fleshy fruit development of blackberries and cherries. Medium to full-bodied with good intensity and a firm tannin structure, with a wonderfully pleasant bitter note on the long finish. The delicious harmony between aroma and flavour is a delight. SUPERIORE.DE

Triusco comes from the estate's oldest plots in the classic DOC zone around Manduria. The Primitivo vines are deeply rooted in red sand/clay soil on a limestone base – ideal conditions for density and aromatic ripeness. After temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine matures for six months in barriques and a further four months in stainless steel. Dark ruby red in the glass with a violet tinge. Aromas of ripe blackberry, black cherry, some plum, cinnamon and tobacco. Soft, dense and spicy on the palate, with rich fruit, supple tannins and a warm, lingering final. An expressive Primitivo with structure, elegance and depth. SUPERIORE.DE

The name is a reference: the Brenta, the river that runs through the Veneto region from the Alps to the lagoon – sometimes gently, sometimes with vigour. The wine is very similar. 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon from the best vineyards of the Breganze DOC, on volcanic-tuff soil. Hand-picked, maceration for several days, fermentation in steel tanks. During ageing, the wine is divided: one half remains in steel, the other matures for twelve months in French barriques – one third of which is new.

Serrocielo is the elegant cru version of Falanghina – vinified from selected parcels around Benevento, whose altitude and limestone-clay soils give the grape variety expression and finesse. Pale straw yellow in colour with silvery reflections. Precise aromas of lime zest, white peach, herbs and a hint of wet chalk on the nose. Straightforward and delicately flavoured on the palate, with mineral tension, well-integrated acidity and a delicate melting finish. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the purity, while the selective hand-picking ensures depth. A Falanghina full of character with cool elegance – interpreted in a modern way without denying its southern Italian soul. SUPERIORE.DE

Only one wine ever bears the name of the estate – and there is a reason for this. The Montecucco Rosso Riserva is the centrepiece of production: the wine that most directly expresses the philosophy of the estate. Italian passion meets Swiss precision – is how the Tipa Bertarelli family itself describes its approach. In the glass, this is convincing every year anew. 80% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon – grapes from vineyards on sandstone, marl and clay at 300 metres. Spontaneous fermentation on natural yeast in temperature-controlled steel tanks, followed by 16 months of ageing: the Sangiovese in 40-hectolitre oak barrels, Ciliegiolo and Cabernet in 500-litre French oak Liters.

A red wine with character – irresistible in its depth and yet with supple elegance. Noras comes from 90% Cannonau (Grenache) and 10% Carignano and is harvested from old vines rooted in sandy-granitic soils deep in the Sulcis terroir. After late manual harvesting, the must ferments at a controlled 22-24 °C for 12 days in stainless steel tanks, accompanied by regular pumping over to optimise extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place early and spontaneously, followed by around six months of maturation in used French barriques. Before it is released for sale, Noras matures for a further six months in the bottle – a maturation and ageing process that gives it depth and elegance.

Barbaspinosa comes from the hills around Poggio la Mozza – characterised by ferruginous clay soils that give the Sangiovese backbone and depth. The wine is aged for twelve months, partly in barriques and partly in large wooden barrels. Ruby red in colour with a slightly lighter rim. The bouquet smells of black cherry, plum, Maremma herbs, some tobacco and a hint of leather. Powerful but well-balanced on the palate, with ripe fruit, grippy tannins and fine spice. The vintage gives fullness, but remains surprisingly fresh thanks to the cool nights. A Sangiovese full of character with a Tuscan soul – down-to-earth, honest and with a distinctive expression of the Maremma. SUPERIORE.DE