Italian red wine

Powerful ruby colour. Beautiful interplay between earthy notes, tobacco and dark berry fruit on the nose, finely characterised. Juicy on the palate and on the palate, flows calmly, grippy, well-integrated tannins, fine drinking flow. Much fresher and airier than expected, but still powerful. A harmonious all-rounder with ambition. SUPERIORE.DE

The name tells of ancient craftsmanship: "Gerla" was the name the winegrowers gave to the conical baskets they carried on their backs during the harvest. In 1976, Sergio Rossi acquired the estate from Tedina Biondi-Santi – together with her family's legendary Sangiovese clones. Today, La Gerla is the only family-run winery in Montalcino that still works with this historic heritage. Poggio gli Angeli comes from young vines in Castelnuovo dell'Abate, the warm south of the appellation, vinified with the same care as the Brunelli of the house, only matured for a shorter time: four months in large Slavonian barrels preserve the impetuous fruit.

Salcheto is not just an organic winery – it is a manifesto. Since 2011, the winery has been completely self-sufficient, detached from the regional electricity grid and powered by photovoltaics, geothermal energy and biomass. Gambero Rosso named Salcheto "Sustainable Winery of the Year" in 2014, and Michele Manelli, who has managed the estate since 1997, is Vice President of Equalitas, the organisation that sets standards for sustainable wine production in Italy. The lightest bottles in the industry, certified CO₂ balances, energy-independent winery – at Salcheto, sustainability is not a claim, but a reality.

Bisci not only produces excellent Verdicchio, but also very appealing Rosso, which is now made from 100% Merlot. With the best value wine in the Marche winery's range, it has achieved a great success: Fascinating aromas of red berries, precious wood and herbs, with a subtle, smoky component in the background. Precise and taut on the palate, with a wonderful primary fruity core, framed by liquorice and a dried bouquet of Mediterranean herbs. A warm red for the unusual days of the week. SUPERIORE.DE

Lupo is made from 100% Sangiovese from very old clones that produce a lighter style of red wine that was common in the 1960s and 1970s. Preserved cherries, orange peel, white pepper, crushed stones and chalk give this light to medium-bodied red wine an attractive upper flavour register that underlines its decidedly taut and nervous personality. Very independent and very well made. SUPERIORE.DE

The oldest red wine variety in South Tyrol finds ideal conditions at the Ebnerhof in a wind-protected, warm south-east location. On the terraced vineyards, which the Unterthiner family has been cultivating for generations, Vernatsch thrives on Pergel vines that are up to 18 years old – the traditional form of cultivation that is part of the South Tyrolean landscape. After gentle processing, the wine ferments in stainless steel tanks before maturing in large wooden barrels – just the right balance between freshness and structure.

The grapes come from the vineyards between La Morra and Verduno, where clay and limestone-rich soils at an altitude of 310 to 370 metres create ideal conditions for this traditional grape variety. Matteo Ascheri's approach is deliberately restrained: minimal use of technology, no barrique treatment and a respectful approach to what nature produces. The result is a Dolcetto as it should be – delicate and expressive, without being artificial or forced.

Inu – sardinian for "dog" – stands for steadfastness and character. This Riserva reveals the full potential of the indigenous Cannonau variety: clear, structured and with a typical Sardinian temperament. The grapes come exclusively from the best sites on volcanic alluvial soils in the Sinis-Tirso region, where Mediterranean warmth meets fresh breezes – a combination that creates delicate ripeness and aromatic precision. Careful hand-picking is followed by gentle maceration, then around 12 months of ageing in barriques and medium-sized oak barrels – followed by at least six months of ageing in the bottle. This gives the wine depth and tranquillity without losing its fruitiness.

The wines of La Badia have a clear style: clean and traditionally vinified, they are always a great pleasure. Intense ruby red, the bouquet has a burst of red-coloured fruit, pipe tobacco, cedar wood and sweet spices. The full-bodied flavour of Roberto Stucchi is wonderfully smooth, the acidity well balanced and the finish clean and long-lasting. SUPERIORE.DE

Chronicon – the name sounds like history, and that is exactly what this wine delivers: a chronicle of what Montepulciano is capable of in the hills of Bolognano. The vines grow around the estate, overlooking the Majella National Park, on clayey soils with a westerly exposure. The grapes are harvested by hand at the end of September, followed by a good two weeks of maceration at a controlled temperature – long enough to extract colour, structure and the typical varietal fruit. Ageing in oak barrels for six to nine months gives the wine a polished finish without over-moulding it.

A lively and by no means everyday expression of Piedmont: this Dolcetto comes from sustainably cultivated vineyards on calcareous soils around Vergne, from vines between 25 and 60 years old (!), grown with dedication and honest meticulousness. Hand-picking took place from the end of September to the beginning of autumn, followed by a relatively long alcoholic maceration with careful temperature management. Maturation took place exclusively in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the freshness and originality of the fruit.

The name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Sardinian word for ladybird – and yet this wine is far more than just a charming gimmick. Mamaioa is an organically produced Cannonau in its purest form, spontaneously fermented, with short maturation in cement and stainless steel – undisguised, straightforward and characterised by the terroir of the Sinis region west of Oristano. A modern Cannonau with a natural signature, deliberately unadorned in the best sense of the word – honest, typical of the region and pleasingly versatile.

The namesake of the winery – and the wine. Pandolfo Malatesta, the bold 15th century general whose portrait by Piero della Francesca now hangs in the Louvre, once lived on this estate. The Sangiovese vines stand at an altitude of 150 to 250 metres, characterised by brown limestone soils, planted in 1999 with 4,500 vines per hectare. After 14 days of maceration, 70% of the wine is matured in stainless steel and 30% in large Slavonian oak barrels – one step more complex than the Federico, but not yet the Riserva.

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

An Etna Rosso full of temptation and polished elegance, Ulysse is a reference to Odysseus' legendary naval voyages and this vibrant tension between the Nerello grape and the unique Etna terroir reflects precisely this balance between adventure and the spirit of discovery. Intense ruby red in colour with garnet hues. The nose opens with an aroma of cherry, blackcurrant and raspberry, along with spicy, subliminal pepper, vanilla and a hint of tobacco – clear, precise and pleasantly inviting. On the palate, Ulysse has a moderate body, juicy fruit and fine but present acidity. The tannins are softly embedded, the finish is long, with a fine aftertaste and a lot of flavour that whets the appetite for the next sip. An accessible, cultivated Etna Rosso – ideal with dark poultry, grilled vegetables or mildly matured cheese. Have a good trip! SUPERIORE.DE

Piedmont in a bottle – not as a miniaturisation, but as an essence. Nebbiolo brings structure and bright cherry fruit, Barbera contributes juicy acidity, Dolcetto rounds off with soft tannins, and in the background Freisa and Albarossa whisper of the diversity of grape varieties in a region that is far more than just Barolo and Barbaresco. The Vajras call this wine "an embrace from Piedmont", and that is exactly how it feels: Warm-hearted, accessible, without ever becoming arbitrary. The grapes come from younger vines, are vinified separately and only then combined into a cuvée, a process that requires precision where others simulate simplicity.

In 1979, Sting sent a desperate message to the world with The Police – and landed a global hit. The red message in a bottle from Tuscany conveys a different message: that modern Tuscan red wine can combine tradition and cosmopolitanism. 70% Sangiovese forms the basis, supplemented by 15% each of Syrah and Merlot – a cuvée in the spirit of the Super Tuscans, but without their price ambitions. The grapes are harvested by hand, fermented for seven to eight days at a controlled temperature and matured for twelve months in French barriques.

Brilliant ruby red colour. Intense bouquet of small red berries, cherries and a violet-spice component. Warm and full flavours of forest fruits and cherries on the palate, flanked by a solid tannin structure. The finish is soft and long, medium-bodied and very elegant. SUPERIORE.DE

A medieval watchtower on the river Marzeno gave this wine its name – and indeed it watches over the boundaries of what Romagna Sangiovese can be. Cristina Geminiani, who took over her grandfather's winery in 1987, has created something here that has nothing to hide from any Tuscan. Her secret: Alberello, the old bush cultivation, planted in densities that are considered insane elsewhere. What grows here is Sangiovese of unusual concentration, complemented by a touch of Merlot and the indigenous Ancellotta. Twelve months in French barriques polish the wine without masking its origins.

South Tyrol's "regional red" par excellence thrives between 260 and 500 metres on calcareous clay-dolomite soils to authentic perfection. The autochthonous Vernatsch, mentioned in documents as early as 1370 as Vernatschia, has embodied the soul of South Tyrolean wine culture for centuries. The single-varietal Schiava is fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel and refined for six months in large wooden barrels, a vinification process that skilfully combines tradition and modernity and gives Bocado its characteristic structure.

Augere – to enlarge, increase. This hilltop above Treiso owes its name to the Latins because the vines here have always produced better grapes than elsewhere. At Bricco, 420 metres above Munfrina, the soil is different: hard, compact, almost stony, with a high lime content – centuries of erosion have long since carried away the sand and silt. What remains challenges the Dolcetto grape and gives it an atypical tannin structure for the variety. Giorgio Pelissero responds with equally atypical vinification: ten to twelve days of maceration instead of the usual four, then six months in 50-hectolitre oak barrels to tame the powerful tannins.

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

Gregory Perrucci has given Primitivo di Manduria back its dignity. When he founded the Felline winery in 1992, Primitivo was still a mass-produced commodity for tanker exports – cheap blended wine without prestige. Perrucci recognised the potential of the grape variety and began to systematically investigate the terroirs around Manduria. With his Accademia dei Racemi, founded in 1996, he became a pioneer in the valorisation of indigenous Apulian varieties. Today, Felline is considered a reference for Primitivo di Manduria – thanks to its work on different types of soil (terra rossa, white earth, black earth, sand) and its uncompromising focus on quality. This basic Primitivo comes from different plots of the 120 hectares of vineyards, which are organically farmed. Hand-picked, vinified separately according to soil type, matured for six months in French barriques – a classic interpretation of the variety.