Italian red wine

Three Dolcetto parcels in Neive and one wine: Cottà, Basarin and San Cristoforo consist of calcareous marl soils with sandy veins. The grapes are harvested selectively by hand; fermentation takes place spontaneously in stainless steel with a maceration period of around three weeks in order to gain flavour, grip and depth. The wine then rests exclusively in the tank on the fine lees until early bottling – without the use of wood, focussing entirely on precision and drinking flow.

Under the name Askos, Li Veli summarises a project in which long-forgotten, indigenous grape varieties are rediscovered and cultivated on the ideal terroir selected for them. The red Susumaniello grape is said to originate from the nearby Dalmatian coast and is one of the most exciting grape varieties in Puglia today, even though it is rarely vinified as a single variety.

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

"St. Magdalener, a traditional cuvée made from the two indigenous grape varieties Vernatsch and Lagrein, once not only played a very important role in South Tyrolean viticulture, but was also one of the most famous Italian red wines. But even today, this fine, fruity and characteristically stylish red wine, which is named after the growing area around the wine village of St. Magdalena, has many fans and is currently being rediscovered by many a connoisseur." Rudi Kofler (cellar master Cantina Terlano)

The highest parcels of the estate, between 200 and 275 metres, ochre-coloured limestone soils, reduced yields of just 5,000 kilos per hectare – this is where the Riserva is created. While the normal Pandolfo remains on the skins for 14 days, here it is 22 days. Then 18 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, followed by at least eight months of ageing in the bottle. Deep ruby red in colour with violet reflections, which will mature to garnet over the years. The nose is layered: dark berry fruits, stewed plums, tobacco and leather, with fine herbs and sweet spices on top. The palate is dense and full-bodied, with tannins that are present but never intrusive. The complexity unfolds over several levels, the final is long and reminiscent of everything the nose has promised. A Sangiovese that shows what Romagna can be if you give it time – and proves that Riserva level does not necessarily mean Riserva prices. SUPERIORE.DE

In the divine valley – the translation of Dievole – has been cultivating vines since 1090, twelve kilometres north of Siena. Since the takeover by Alejandro Bulgheroni in 2013 and organic certification in 2017, the traditional estate has experienced an impressive renaissance. The classic blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino matures for 13 months in large, unroasted French oak barrels, which gives the wine its characteristic elegance.

The name Mediaevum refers to the Middle Ages, when minstrels such as Oswald von Wolkenstein sang about the wine from the Gump Hof – as a symbol of lightness and freshness. Markus Prackwieser's Vernatsch from the everyday Mediaevum line epitomises precisely this philosophy: uncomplicated wines that enrich life without any pretensions to great drama. The grapes grow on calcareous moraine soils over quartz porphyry in the southern Eisack Valley. After a short cold maceration, the wine ferments for a week in stainless steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation and six to eight months of ageing, two thirds in steel and one third in large wooden barrels.

For over three decades, this Salice Salentino Riserva has been the undisputed flagship of Cantine Due Palme – and a wine that proves year after year that greatness and a co-operative structure need not be a contradiction in terms. The Tre Bicchieri of the Gambero Rosso? For Selvarossa, this has long been a subscription. No other Apulian red wine has won this top award so consistently, and at a price-pleasure ratio that even cuvées four times more expensive regularly fail to achieve. The story of Selvarossa begins shortly after the turn of the millennium, when Angelo Maci – fourth generation of an old winemaking family and founder of Due Palme – realised his vision of uncompromising quality production. What began in 1989 with fifteen members now unites over a thousand winegrowers who together cultivate 2,500 hectares of vineyards in the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto. The name Selvarossa – "red forest" – refers to the characteristic red-coloured, clayey soils around Cellino San Marco, rich in minerals, graphite and iron oxides, which give the terroir its unmistakable character.

Pojega is a historic vineyard next to the famous Pojega garden, which was purchased by the Rizzardi family in the 17th century. The single-vineyard Valpolicella skilfully combines the fruitiness and increased aromatic richness of the traditional grape with a well-proportioned body and extraordinary finesse. Great value with an almost magnetic attraction! SUPERIORE.DE

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

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.

Maurizio Castelli does not like fancy names. That's why he took a simple but original approach to naming the estate and its top wine: 414 – which is the number of the vineyard in the region's land register. His Morellino has become a true Italian classic with a modern interpretation. The grapes come from biodynamically farmed hills around Scansano with deep-rooted Sangiovese. The 2023 vintage was characterised by warm, sunny weather and moderate ripeness, ideal for aromatic clarity and balance. Temperature control during maceration and a subsequent maturation phase of around 12 months in large wooden barrels characterise this wine.

Redimore Aglianico comes from a special vineyard in Mirabella Eclano, planted with an old, historic Aglianico clone that has been cultivated by the Mastroberardino family for generations. The warm days and cool nights of this location give the wine depth and freshness in equal measure. Dense ruby red colour with a purple hue in the glass. The bouquet opens with black cherry, plum, violet and fine herbs, underpinned by tobacco, cocoa and a hint of graphite. Full-bodied on the palate, with ripe, finely interwoven tannins, juicy fruit and balsamic spice. The ageing in oak barrels lends additional complexity and length. A characterful, modern Aglianico with a traditional soul – powerful, precise and long-lasting. SUPERIORE.DE

Tenuta Missoj is a small winery in Mizzole with just 3.5 hectares of vineyards and is owned by the Campagnola family. The vineyards are situated at an altitude of 200 metres on a well-ventilated and exposed hill, where the grapes can reach perfect and complete ripeness. The new prestige wine Valpolicella Ripasso "Tenuta di Missoj" comes from these soils, which already impressively showcased the typical characteristics of the appellation in the 2019 debut vintage.

"Bronzone" is the powerful yet elegant Riserva from Tenuta Belguardo – a Morellino di Scansano that epitomises the modern class of the Maremma. The Sangiovese grapes, known here as Morellino, come from south-facing slopes on clay and limestone-rich soils near Grosseto. Old vines, low yields and consistent manual harvesting form the basis for this Riserva with a strong character. The 2021 vintage in the Maremma was characterised by a cool spring, followed by a warm, dry summer with cool nights, which produced perfectly ripe, aromatically concentrated berries. After temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine matured for around 14 months in French oak barriques and tonneaux before finding its harmony in the bottle.

Originating from the Piani range of hills in Ferrere/Treiso (west-facing, 250–350 metres), this Barbera combines old vines (planted in 1965/2005) and meticulous vineyard work to create a clear, characterful style. Around 15-20 days of maceration in stainless steel, followed by around 8-9 months of ageing in oak (part in barrique, the rest in large wood), then a few months of rest in the bottle.

Nero di Lupo is COS' elegant contribution to Nero d'Avola – with a light, fruity and mineral flavour. The vines are rooted in red, calcareous clay soils, interspersed with sandy deposits and silicate layers that have shaped the character of Vittoria for thousands of years. At an altitude of around 230-300 metres, these soils bring freshness and tension to the wine – a clearly honed reflection of the terroir.

Count Otto Huyn (1927-1998) embodied the last splendour of the traditional South Tyrolean aristocracy – a nobleman from Eberstein in Carinthia, who owned his best vineyards in Siebeneich near Terlan, thus continuing a centuries-old winemaking tradition of the Tyrolean aristocracy. His privileged plots at an altitude of 250-300 metres, characterised by weathered porphyry soils of volcanic origin, were already considered the crown jewels of South Tyrolean viticulture during his lifetime. The Bolzano winery honours this heritage with its Collection Otto Graf Huyn, a selection that comes exclusively from the top vineyards of the historic estate, personally selected by the cellar master. The unique terroir of Siebeneich, where warm, sun-exposed slopes meet the nutrient-rich weathered soils of the Bolzano porphyry, creates ideal conditions for Bordeaux grape varieties. The cuvée of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc benefits from the continental character of this location: warm days and cool nights give the grapes the concentration and finesse that characterise this Riserva.

This great Barbera d'Alba was actually created to harmonise everyday life and expression – and it is also a tribute to Giovanni's great-grand aunt – nuanced, clear and warm-hearted. In the glass, it shines in an intense ruby red colour. The nose is caressed by ripe sour cherry, raspberry and a delicate scent of violets, complemented by a hint of orange peel, roasted hazelnut and sweet spice notes – a scented motorway into the seductive world of the Barbera grape. A juicy, lively fruit structure unfolds on the palate, supported by fresh, harmonious acidity and softly integrated tannins. The ageing in stainless steel emphasises freshness and varietal purity. The finish is clear, with a fine citrus note and floral elegance. A high-quality everyday wine with character and finesse from a great house. SUPERIORE.DE

Groppello gentile is a grape with tightly packed berries, small seeds and a very thin and fragile skin. It is certainly the most famous red wine grape on the Riviera del Garda and was already cultivated by the Romans in the Valtènesi.

Bertani's Ripasso is a true classic. The grapes come from the hills around Valpantena and from the direct Valpolicella Classico area. The original Ripasso wine would have been an overloaded Valpolicella rather than a mini Amarone, and this example is true to this type and emphasises the fresh and light style of Valpantena, a long, steeply sloping valley with a particularly cool microclimate. Bertani uses the traditional method of production: The young, already fermented Valpolicella wine is blended with the skins that have dried naturally in the meantime, giving it a richer and more concentrated flavour. It then undergoes a second so-called "ripasso" fermentation, which is triggered by the yeasts still present in the skins.