Organic White Wine

Clean and refined white wine (Riesling & Durella) from volcanic soils with aromas of ripe yellow grapefruit, melon and a hint of wet straw. Medium-bodied with a silky texture that becomes slightly phenolic towards the end. A note of bitter lemon on the finish is exciting. Lots of crisp flavour, good freshness and length. SUPERIORE.DE

Biancospino shines in the glass with a light straw yellow colour and a subtle greenish tinge. The nose already reveals delicate aromas of mandarin, lime and geranium blossom, livened up by salty minerality and white flowers. On the palate, a finely sparkling mousse, lively freshness, a delicate spicy note and aromatic support form a finish full of character. The ageing in stainless steel emphasises the clarity of the fruit and the typical Moscato notes – a finesse-rich, natural aperitif with plenty of vigour and elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

In the Tuscan dialect, "Botro" means a ditch, a natural channel that carries water away. "Dei Fichi" refers to the fig trees. The Botro dei Fichi is already mentioned in the cadastral records of the 18th-century Leopoldine Land Survey – a small depression on the estate that gave its name to a wine long before Vermentino was grown here. The vineyard lies at an altitude of 50 metres, facing west, on volcanic soil with a high proportion of scree. No sand dunes, no alluvial deposits – volcanic rock that lends the grape variety structure and minerality. Fermentation for 30 days in unglazed, raw concrete vats at a controlled temperature of 18°C, using indigenous yeasts. At least three months sur lies. No oak.

A real hidden gem for lovers of elegant white wines: this Trebbiano demonstrates just how versatile the grape variety can be beyond the usual conventions. It comes from biodynamic vineyards in a coastal location near Scansano, shaped by the influence of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Pale gold in colour with delicate green highlights. On the nose, notes of white flowers, green apple, lemon zest and a hint of almond tart unfold. The texture is silky, with a rich creaminess meeting lively acidity and a subtle salty minerality. The finish is of medium length, with a hint of herbal spice and a clean, easy-drinking quality. Maurizio Castelli's rare Trebbiano impresses with its lightness and finesse, without losing its substance – a Trebbiano interpretation with character, freshness and surprising depth. In short: a long-lasting white wine made from Trebbiano Toscano, the sort that wasn't just enjoyed by winemakers in days gone by. SUPERIORE.DE

Chardonnay only arrived in Piedmont in the 19th century – late for a region with such a deep winemaking tradition. But in the municipalities of Fontanile and Castel Boglione, north of Nizza Monferrato, the grape variety found a soil that took it seriously: Marne di Sant'Agata Fossili, an alternation of fossilised marl and sandstone with a good proportion of limestone. The Bertolino family discovered this potential in the 1950s and 60s – at a time when the region's sparkling wine production demanded a Chardonnay of exceptional quality. Today, Tenuta Olim Bauda only produces a few thousand bottles from these vineyards. The grapes are harvest in the first week of September. Gentle pressing, only pre-fermentation must. 36 hours of contact with the fine lees at 5°C with bâtonnage for aromatic extraction, followed by static clarification. Fermentation in large 50-hectolitre wooden vats for around 15 days. Maturation in tonneaux, 10% of which are new, for around one year.

Shells in a vineyard? Not an uncommon sight in the Valdarno di Sopra. Where Chardonnay vines now take root at the foot of the Pratomagno, a lake once stretched out millions of years ago – the metamorphic soils are riddled with fossilised remnants of that era. The name "Lamelle" pays homage to these grooves in the fossilised shells, which lend the wine its unmistakable minerality. After being hand-harvested, the grapes are left to rest overnight at 5°C before being gently pressed. Vinification takes place exclusively in stainless steel at 16°C, followed by two months on the fine lees – that is all it takes to capture the freshness of this terroir.

The Rivetti family, who have long since achieved fame with La Spinetta in Piedmont, found their Tuscan terroir for Vermentino in Terricciola. Sandy soils of marine origin, interspersed with oceanic sediments, characterise this white wine with its unmistakable minerality and salty freshness. The vines grow at an altitude of 250 metres on a south-easterly exposure and are cultivated organically. After manual harvesting, the must ferments spontaneously with natural yeasts, after which the wine rests for three to four months on the fine lees in stainless steel.

Goldmuskateller is one of South Tyrol's oldest grape varieties, which until a few years ago was still regarded as temperamental and demanding. Manincor demonstrates what this "diva" is capable of when given the right sites: Mareit Leiten at 350 metres, with an extremely steep south-facing slope featuring warm gravelly soils and moraine deposits. Added to this are Vogelleiten and Panholzer, with loamy limestone gravel soils – sites where the Muscat's exuberant growth is tamed and perfect ripeness is achieved. The destemmed berries macerate for twelve hours in the press to extract aroma and structure from the skins. Fermentation takes place in wooden barrels and steel tanks, largely spontaneously with wild yeasts. During the five-month ageing on the fine lees, the aroma and flavour become more refined – and the wine develops that balance between fruit and minerality which characterises dry Muscat wines.

Luigi Maffini's Kràtos is an organic wine produced in the foothills of the ancient ruins of Paestum. It spends only a short time in stainless steel tanks and is smoky yet fruit-forward, with musky notes of dried apricots, lime zest, crushed stones and sea spray forming its captivating bouquet. On the palate, it is energetic, soft in texture and packed with zesty citrus and mineral notes, balanced by a core of lively, ripe yellow apples. It finishes fresh and vigorous with notes of lemon oil and peach. For an 'entry-level Fiano', this is absolutely brilliant! SUPERIORE.DE

The Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca grapes used to make this exceptional white wine come from the Casanova dell'Aia in Radda in Chianti, the first 0.2 ha plot with calcareous and loamy soil that the family purchased and planted in the 1980s, before replanting it in 2014. It matures on the fine lees, mostly in terracotta amphorae, with only a small proportion remaining in stainless steel tanks. Total production per vintage: 2,500 bottles.

The name evokes the fields of ancient grains that once covered the hills of Spoltore before vines took root here. Since 2017, this Trebbiano has borne the name "Oro" on its label – a claim it certainly lives up to. To produce it, the Di Properzio brothers select just three hectares of old vines growing on compact limestone-loam soils near the coast. What sets Spelt Oro apart from conventional Trebbiano is the radical patience involved: After fermentation, the wine rests sur lie for four months in stainless-steel tanks, which are deliberately located outside the winery – exposed to natural temperature fluctuations. It then spends a further year in concrete. It is bottled after fifteen months, unfiltered, unclarified and without any stabilisation.

The Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca grapes used to make this exceptional white wine come from the Casanova dell'Aia in Radda in Chianti, the first 0.2 ha plot with calcareous and clay-rich soil that the family purchased and planted in the 1980s, before replanting it in 2014. It matures on the fine lees, mostly in terracotta amphorae, with only a small proportion remaining in stainless steel tanks. Total production per vintage: approx. 2,500 bottles.

While the whole world was talking about the extinction of Trebbiano di Soave, the three Tessari sisters set out on a mission: to save an almost forgotten grape variety. In collaboration with Professor Attilio Scienza from the University of Milan, they selected the best clones of old Trebbiano vines and planted the Massifitti vineyard in 2006 – named after the "dense rocks", the large, compact basalt boulders that characterise the south-facing slope. Only two hectares at an altitude of 300 metres, where the volcanic minerality shows itself in its purest form. What is produced here is unique: probably the only single-varietal Trebbiano di Soave in the world. It matures for 15 months in stainless steel on the fine lees, then a further 12 months in the bottle before the sisters release it.

Rami is an attractive and at the same time very individual blend of Grecanico and Inzolia. Bright golden yellow in colour with a slight, typical cloudiness of an orange wine and an initially restrained, reductive bouquet, with some aeration then sweetly scented with apricots, dried flowers and orange peel. This intellectual white needs time and a certain amount of experience with natural wines - with the necessary amount of oxygen, it is highly appetising and elegant on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

The name already reveals the philosophy: DA-DI means "great earth" in Chinese – virginie Saverys' homage to the yin-yang principle that characterises her biodynamic work at Avignonesi. This experimental white wine from Cortona combines four indigenous grape varieties in just as many vinifications: Orpicchio matures in amphorae and used barriques, Vermentino exclusively in amphorae, Grechetto undergoes a six-day carbonic maceration, while Trebbiano macerates for 48 hours. After ageing on the fine lees, the components are assembled in the summer.

100% Carricante from one of the youngest and, at the same time, most promising cru vineyards on the northern slopes of Mount Etna: Contrada Taccione lies at an altitude of around 700 metres in Castiglione di Sicilia, characterised by volcanic sand, basalt rock and ash dating back thousands of years. It is a landscape in constant flux, shaped by lava, wind and time. It is precisely this interplay between barrenness and energy that Planeta translates here into a wine that seems tailor-made for subtlety.

The owner, Leonardo Pinzolo, cultivates 52 hectares of biodynamically certified vineyards, spread across his family estates in Popoli and Capestrano. The soils here differ from those in the rest of Abruzzo. Combined with the vineyards' higher altitude and proximity to the Gran Sasso mountains, these wines exhibit a decidedly cooler character than is usually found in Abruzzo. In the winery, fermentation takes place spontaneously and without temperature control. With the exception of a few single-vineyard wines, most wines are aged in stainless steel.

Monte Carbonare is grown on red volcanic iron-rich soils with an abundance of black basalt at their centre. Six hectares of 60–70-year-old vines in cooler locations, which, as the climate warms, are set to rise further to become the crème de la crème of the top vineyards. A richer wine than the younger Classico, but without the same cheeky vitality. Whilst the Classico is an unbeatable everyday wine, the Monte Carbonare is a complex wine that calls for food and a little more contemplation. Mirabelle plum, apricot kernel, a hint of dried mango and plenty of smoky, sharp minerality, with a dutiful freshness that brings wonderful length. SUPERIORE.DE

Blangè comes from carefully cultivated Arneis parcels in the Langhe, which benefit from calcareous soils and optimal altitude. Since its introduction in the 1980s, it has been regarded as a modern classic, bringing new fame to the once almost forgotten Arneis grape variety. A characterful, aromatically clear white wine with a Piedmontese identity and contemporary style. Pale straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. On the nose, a fine, clear aroma of pear, white peach, citrus and a hint of exotic fruit, underpinned by floral notes and a delicate almond flavour. Fresh and balanced on the palate, with juicy fruit, fine acidity and a hint of salty minerality. SUPERIORE.DE

La Contessa is a South Tyrolean white wine with character and heritage, produced from biodynamically cultivated vineyards near Kaltern. Grown on loamy-sandy soils at an altitude of 300–400 metres, this blend of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc combines alpine freshness with southern charm. Spontaneously fermented and aged partly in wood and partly in stainless steel, the wine is complex and precise: delicate fruity notes of apple, citrus and lemon balm, accompanied by salty minerality and lively acidity. Finely balanced on the palate, dry and invigorating – an expressive, biodynamic white wine with cool elegance and a South Tyrolean character. SUPERIORE.DE

Tenuta Sansonina is situated in the south of Lake Garda, not far from Sirmione – where the lake breathes across the hills and the soils tell the story of what the last Ice Age left behind: A deep, clayey mixture of chalk and silt that stores water, buffers heat and gives the Turbiana grape that distinctive minerality which sets Lugana apart from everything else. Thirteen hectares, organically farmed, with vines around sixty years old – vines that know just how deep they need to reach. 100 per cent Trebbiano di Lugana, hand-harvested and carefully selected before the grapes reach the winery. The must is first cold-fermented statically, then ferments for around ten to twelve days in stainless steel at a controlled temperature. Six months’ ageing in stainless steel tanks, followed by one month in the bottle: no oak, no interference, just the wine and its terroir.