Italian red wine

Dense ruby red in colour with a garnet-red hue. Juicy sour cherry, ripe plum and a hint of violet on the nose, accompanied by fine notes of sweet spices and subtle vanilla. Juicy and powerful on the palate, with a present but harmoniously integrated acidity that emphasises the typical character of the grape variety. The tannins are round and supple, while the medium-long finish is characterised by fruit fullness and a delicate, spicy hint. Ageing in stainless steel tanks and large wooden barrels gives the wine structure without diminishing its freshness. An authentic Barbera d'Alba that clearly shows its origins in the glass – accessible, balanced and with an elegant finish that makes you want to savour the next glass. 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

The Rosso di Montalcino from Caparzo embodies the philosophy of a house that has been one of the pioneers of modern Montalcino since 1970. Under the visionary leadership of Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, wines are created here that perfectly express the terroir understanding of the various micro-locations. This Rosso is far more than just the "little brother" of the legendary Brunello – it is a wine of character in its own right, combining the youthful freshness of the Sangiovese grape with the complexity of different vineyards. The grapes come from three strategically selected vineyards that cover the entire spectrum of the Caparzo terroirs: In the north, the Caparzo site at an altitude of 220 metres, in the south Il Cassero at 270 metres and in the east San Piero-Caselle at 250 metres. This diversity of locations – from the warmer, early-ripening sites to the higher, cooler terroirs – enables the cellar team to create the optimum blend depending on the character of the vintage.

In Neive, where the hills of Barbaresco gently undulate towards the horizon, the Pola family has been running the Fontanabianca winery since 1969. What Franco Pola started back then with the first bottle of Barbaresco Bordini is continued today by his son Aldo and grandson Matteo with the same conviction: quality is only created where the wine authentically reflects the terroir. On the limestone and clay soils of the municipality of Neive, 250 metres above sea level, the autochthonous grape varieties of Piedmont thrive in a temperate climate: Nebbiolo for the great Barbaresco wines, Dolcetto for uncomplicated pleasure and Barbera for the powerful elegance that has made this variety the region's most sophisticated popular grape.

100% Sangiovese Grosso from the argilloso-sandy soils of the estate, interspersed with fossils, marl and limestone – the foundation on which the Brunello vines of Camigliano also stand. After 10 to 15 days of maceration and temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, the wine matures for six months in large French and Slavonian oak barrels, followed by six months of rest in the bottle. The 2024 vintage benefited from a cool, rainy September, which gave the Sangiovese the necessary time for slow, complete phenolic maturation after a hot summer – the result is wines of unusual freshness and fine contours.

It all began with this wine. The grapes came from grandmother Caterina's vineyard, and grandfather wrote "La Monella" in chalk on the liveliest barrel in the cellar – the little cheeky girl. This is how Barbera was once drunk in Monferrato: young, impetuous, with that slight tingle that tames the acidity and makes the wine the perfect everyday companion. Ten days of maceration, four months of steel ageing, then the prise de mousse in the pressure tank.

The name tells a story: Barco Reale means "royal enclosure" and refers to the historic Medici hunting reserve, which was established in 1626 – a ring of walls over 50 kilometres long surrounded the area where Sangiovese, Cabernet and Canaiolo thrive today. Barco Reale Rosso is the younger, more accessible version of Carmignano DOCG, was awarded its own DOC status in 1994 and epitomises the elegance of this small but important Tuscan appellation. Tenuta di Capezzana has been run by the Contini Bonacossi family for five generations and represents over seventy per cent of the entire Carmignano production. The first documented mention of Capezzana dates back to 804, and as early as the 16th century, Caterina de' Medici had Cabernet cuttings brought to Carmignano from Bordeaux – centuries before the Super Tuscans discovered this idea for themselves. The winery has been certified organic since 2009.

The history of Lagrein cultivation in Alto Adige dates back to the 14th century. The Lagrein from St. Michael-Eppan is a characterful representative of its grape variety - powerful, but well-managed, with regional typicity and a clear profile. Grown on brooding, sandy-loamy soils in the Bolzano and Appiano area, the wine shows what South Tyrol's indigenous red wine variety can achieve in good hands. The 2024 vintage brought a balanced ripeness that allowed for freshness and depth in equal measure. After the classic mash fermentation, the wine matured for several months in large wooden barrels, which lends structure without overpowering the fruit.

Guarnaccio is called Perricone in the old Regaleali dialects and stands for a long, almost forgotten tradition of indigenous red wines. The vines are rooted on 2.6 hectares in the historic Vigneto Ciminnita, newly planted in 2011, on brooding, fine clayey soil with a sparse limestone flow. Rich in polyphenols and with spicy flavours, the Guarnaccio evokes memories of an ancient winemaking tradition.

Swiss precision meets Tuscan elegance in this characterful Supertuscan, which has embodied the Widmer family's DNA for over four decades. The name has a double meaning: three grape varieties and three terroirs, which Barbara Widmer combines with inimitable finesse to create a harmonious cuvée. This 70% Sangiovese composition comes from the vineyards of Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Maremma, refined with 15% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The continental Chianti vineyards at an altitude of 230-400 metres with their clay and galestro-interspersed soils meet the Mediterranean Maremma terroir with its sandy clay soils, which give the wine its characteristic depth.

Federico Giuntini-Antinori runs the area's most traditional estate, whose family tree can be traced back to the 15th century. Rufina is the northernmost district in Chianti, where the vineyards grow around the Villa di Selvapiana and in the vineyards of San Martino a Quona, Pian de' Marroni and Cerbognole. Mainly Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo, Colorino and Malvasia Nera are harvested between the end of September and the beginning of October, partly by hand. Spontaneous fermentation takes place in steel tanks at 28-30°C with a 25-day maceration period. Maturation lasts 12 months in 25-litre French oak barrels and concrete vats.

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 grapes for Ettamiano are harvested when slightly overripe, a trick that the famous winegrowers' co-operative likes to use with great flair. The variety should show as much of its origin as possible, which is why they rely on short maturation and only use French barriques that have been used several times. Intense ruby red colour with violet reflections. At first sip, Ettamiano is a Primitivo that is characterised by its pleasantness, but at no time does it pander. The glass reveals hints of ripe but lively fruit, spicy notes of cinnamon, then cocoa and liquorice. The flavour is consistent and persistent, supported by a fresh and spicy note that keeps you coming back for more. Long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

In the vineyards between La Morra and Verduno, where Matteo Ascheri has been capturing the essence of Nebbiolo for generations, a wine is created that shows all the elegance of this royal grape variety without the heaviness and complexity of its big Barolo brothers. Here, on the characteristic marl-clay soils of the Langhe, the Nebbiolo vines benefit from an ideal south-south-west exposure at an altitude of 350 metres. Matteo's proven philosophy – to let the terroir speak for itself without overpowering it with excessive technology – is also evident in this Nebbiolo: gentle vinification in stainless steel tanks preserves the freshness and elegance typical of the variety, while a short refinement in Slavonian oak barrels gives the wine a subtle structure without masking its natural finesse.

The classic from the heart of Chianti Classico: Brolio combines the excellent drinkability of a young Chianti Classico with a complex, complete structure. The vineyards grow on the historic Castello di Brolio between 280 and 480 metres above sea level on five representative soil types – from sandstone to galestro and marine sediments. Intense ruby red colour. Fresh, floral nose with notes of chinotto, violets and mimosa, leading to fruity nuances of black cherries and sweet mint. Velvety and complex on the palate with great harmony, elegant structure and a long, mineral final. A textbook Chianti Classico from a historic terroir. 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

Giravolta – a name with a history. This was the name of the racehorse that once galloped across the Pozzopalo stud farm and always turned round abruptly in front of the old tuff quarry. This "U-turn" gave the wine its name, but it is the terra bianca, the white earth, that characterises it. While the basic Primitivo comes from the Terra Rossa, the Giravolta grows on calcareous, white soil, created by the breaking up of limestone. The tuffy, stony composition ensures rapid water drainage, but the porous stones also store moisture for the roots.