Italian red wine

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

The word Lamuri stands locally for "love" – and the vineyards of Tenuta Regaleali reflect this as well as the passion with which this Nero d'Avola was created. The vines thrive on barren limestone soil between gently rolling hills at an altitude of 450–750 metres above sea level. Bright ruby red in colour with a violet hue. The bouquet is charming and open: Ripe blackberry, white pepper and violet accents mingle with a delicate undertone of damp lava stones. The whole is fresh and earthy at the same time. On the palate, Lamuri dances between fullness and elegance: the fruit is juicy, not overloaded, underpinned by a crisp acidity that supports the body. The tannins are velvety soft, but present and carried by a mineral trace. The final is clean, unobtrusively spicy, with a hint of cassis and liquorice that lingers in the memory. SUPERIORE.DE

Non Confunditur – "not to be confused": The family motto on the Argiano coat of arms is also the programme for this wine. Founded in 1580, the winery is one of the founding members of the Brunello consortium and has been cultivating its 60 hectares organically since 2018. The NC combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese from the estate's younger vines – a "Junior Super Tuscan", as cellar master Bernardino Sani calls it. Vinification in stainless steel and used barriques preserves the freshness of the fruit.

Brilliant, bright ruby red colour. Wickedly fresh and spicy on the nose with peppery rose and strawberry fruit. With its freshness and juiciness, it is the archetype of the appellation and a deep, energetic Valpolicella in purezza. It has a lot of personality despite its drinking flow and leaves a very likeable and crisp impression. SUPERIORE.DE

This Dolcetto comes from the gently sloping, gravel- and limestone-rich plots around Barolo, which Sandrone has always regarded as a wine of character in its own right. Hand-picked at the end of September, spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel and careful ageing in neutral wood preserve the typicality of the grape variety and at the same time lend structure. A clear, bright purple colour with a violet hue in the glass. The bouquet is as inviting as it is precise: black cherry, blackberry and plum, surrounded by violet blossom, almonds and a hint of graphite. On the palate, it displays a harmonious combination of juicy fruit, finely integrated acidity and ripe, slightly grippy tannins. The medium-long finish carries mineral notes and a hint of herbal spice. A Dolcetto with substance and nobility that epitomises the philosophy of the house – clarity, balance and elegance – even in the supposedly simplest grape variety. SUPERIORE.DE

The same muse, a different dress. While the white Roxanne seduces with Vermentino, its red brother relies on Tuscan tradition: 90% Sangiovese, supplemented by 10% Ciliegiolo – the indigenous grape variety whose name means "little cherry" and whose character perfectly describes it. Hand-picked at the end of September, fermentation in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, ten days on the skins. Ageing takes place mainly in steel, with only a small proportion maturing in wood – enough to provide structure without overpowering the fruit.

A rare representative of an almost forgotten grape variety that is attracting attention again today: Piedirosso – the "red foot" – is an ancient clone from Campania that is experiencing a renaissance thanks to its finesse and flavour. Feudi di San Gregorio interprets it with precision and respect for tradition. A bright ruby red colour with a violet hue in the glass. The bouquet combines dark cherry, blackberry and dried herbs with fine smoke and a hint of leather. Soft and supple on the palate, with ripe fruit, subtle tannins and an animating, almost salty freshness. The ageing in stainless steel preserves the typicality and elegance of the grape variety. A characterful, yet pleasantly accessible red wine with a regional profile – and a successful plea for the authentic south of Italy. SUPERIORE.DE

"I spent a long time looking for the area in Valpolicella that would best suit my style. Valpolicella Morandina is the freshest and sharpest interpretation of my red wines." Graziano Prà

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

Rosso di Montepulciano Prugnolo is lively and fresh with a burst of wild strawberries, lavender and violets. It is juicy and fruit-driven, with plenty of tart raspberry and sweet herbs enlivened by zesty acidity. Leaves the palate with primary concentration and spice, while finishing gently tannic and refined. This is a fantastic achievement and a great introduction to the Boscarelli style. SUPERIORE.DE

Between La Morra and Verduno, the vineyards of Rivalta tell another facet of the Ascheri story. Here, at an altitude of 350 metres, Matteo Ascheri has been cultivating the indigenous grape varieties that characterise the true face of Piedmont for generations. Barbera epitomises Matteo's unmistakable signature: purity without frills, tradition without stubbornness. Vinification follows Ascheri's tried and tested philosophy: six months of ageing in a balanced mixture of used and new oak barrels, which gives the wine structure without masking its lively fruitiness. The result is a Barbera of remarkable harmony, reflecting both the elegance of the Langhe vineyards and the characteristic bite of this great Piedmontese grape variety.

Laura Bianchi's Monsanto Rosso is a 100% Sangiovese and comes from the vineyards in the south-western part of the estate, where Galestro (friable marl) combines with a marked concentration of tufa, a volcanic seabed that releases fossils from the Cretaceous period over time. These soils, which are particularly rich in phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and limestone, give the wine greater complexity and a more characteristic flavour, beautifully articulated fruit and wonderful freshness. 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.

Marzemino is an indigenous Venetian grape related to Refosco and Teroldego. Intense ruby red in colour with clear, purple-red reflections. In the glass, it has a fragrant and generous aroma of ripe red cherries and blackberries. The palate reveals a finely tuned harmony and an enveloping softness, enlivened by a cheerful, fresh acidity that leads to a very respectable finish full of character. Mazane is a highly distinctive red that you would not necessarily immediately recognise as being from Lake Garda. SUPERIORE.DE

For decades, Margreid has been considered the Merlot Eldorado of South Tyrol – and Alois Lageder as its master. On the gentle slopes between 230 and 320 metres above sea level, where the first international vines were planted back in 1934, Merlots of impressive clarity are produced. The bouquet reveals intense notes of wild berries and plums, interspersed with fine spices and a hint of graphite. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and velvety, with a lively freshness and a lingering fruity final. SUPERIORE.DE

Nocera - this noble vine is only grown on a few hectares in the province of Messina, on a spectacular vineyard surrounded by the sea. Bright garnet red in colour, with an original aroma of white pepper, cherries, geranium and summer fruits. The typical fresh, fruity flavour of this old Sicilian grape is convincing. A fine salty vein in the spicy final. An unforgettable experience from Planeta's Capo Milazzo branch on the coast north of Mount Etna. SUPERIORE.DE

Intense ruby red colour. Harmonious interplay of fruit, barrel and spice flavours on the nose, hearty and engaging on the palate, reminiscent of dark fruit, violets and spices. Despite its seriousness, the final is full of warmth and elegance. As always with the completely organic-certified winery: top value. SUPERIORE.DE

Dolcetto d'Alba Bricco Bastia comes from high-altitude, organically farmed plots on the Bastia hills in Monforte d'Alba. The exposed location at an altitude of around 500 metres and calcareous marl soils give the grapes freshness, fine minerality and aromatic clarity. Bright purple-red colour with violet reflections. Juicy black cherry, ripe plum and a hint of blueberry on the nose, accompanied by delicate almond notes and a hint of violet. Dry, supple and harmonious on the palate, with ripe fruit, moderate acidity and soft, well-integrated tannins. A Dolcetto full of character that shows its origins from the heart of the Langhe with confidence and a charming drinking flow. SUPERIORE.DE

Virginie Saverys is a lawyer, not a winemaker. When she took over Avignonesi in 2009, it came as a surprise to many – and for her the beginning of a radical conviction. No herbicides, no pesticides, no additives in the cellar, no compromises. Today, Avignonesi is the largest biodynamically certified winery in Italy – over 170 hectares on the hills around Montepulciano, organic since 2016, biodynamic since 2019. What began in 1974 as a traditional Tuscan winery has become one of the most consistent sustainability projects in Italian viticulture under its leadership.

The vines for this Dolcetto grow on the Ravera hillside in Novello, on soils rich in limestone, sand and clay with a gentle south-eastern exposure, around 380 metres above sea level. This parcel is located in Elvio Cogno's traditional cultivation centre and is all about local provenance and authenticity. The ageing – around eight months in steel barrels, without wood – emphasises the varietal typicity and freshness.

Intense ruby red, persistent, fruity bouquet with notes of wild berries, violets, cloves and cinnamon as well as sweet tobacco flavours. Rich and velvety on the palate, with an abundance of ripe red fruit and tactile mineral tones, complemented by a hint of sage. The lively acidity provides balance. On the finish, the spicy tones merge with a pleasant fruity flavour. An unbeatable wine every year at a very attractive price! SUPERIORE.DE