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Avignonesi's aromatic classic has a lean to medium body, seamless tannins and a delicious flavour profile. Intense ruby red with garnet-coloured reflections. On the nose, aromas of red berries, cherry, eucalyptus and pomegranate and the unmistakable scent of violets so typical of the Sangiovese grape, with a hint of vanilla and Mediterranean herbal spice in the background. Well-balanced on the palate, with beautiful primary notes of ripe cherry and plum. The warm, ethereal body is embedded in a dense tannin structure and leads into a long, persistent finish. SUPERIORE.DE

For decades, the Porer vineyard on the Margreider Schuttkegel has been the source of Lageder's most refined interpretation of Pinot Grigio. Grapes of exceptional complexity ripen between 230 and 240 metres, where stony, sandy and highly calcareous soil with dramatic day-night temperature fluctuations creates a unique microclimate. The organic cultivation of this single vineyard follows strict principles of sustainability. The secret of Porer lies in its three-part vinification: one third is pressed immediately, another part remains on the skins for 15 hours, while the last component macerates with stems and skins for up to eight months. This orchestrated composition of different textures gives the wine its characteristic tension. Six months of ageing on the fine lees in stainless steel round off the complex flavour profile.

The Serpara is elegant, intense and long-lasting every year. Its grapes come from a single vineyard and the wine matures in a combination of new and used French Allier oak barrels. In the glass, it exudes aromas of blackberries, tobacco, sage, thyme and a hint of smoked meat. It has a soft, almost creamy texture and juicy acids that keep the balance, while ripe black fruits and minerals move effortlessly across the palate. The bold tannins make their presence felt on the final, but are more of an accent that frames the experience well, while hints of dark chocolate and balsamic spices slowly fade away. SUPERIORE.DE

"Burdigai" is Ligurian dialect and means shrubs of the Mediterranean maquis. From a small and isolated terrace facing west, surrounded by Mediterranean shrubs, comes this truly original Rosato, which should not actually exist. Because the grape variety is unknown, it is alternatively called "Franseise" because it apparently comes from the south of France and not even the owners know the exact origin and age, nor do they know who planted the vines there in the first place. Nevertheless, the vines have been cultivated and cared for over decades and at some point the family council decided to press an independent rosé from them.

Luigi Veronelli affectionately called him "Il Contadino". And in doing so, he captured the essence of Livio Felluga better than any label ever could. A man from Istria who survived two world wars, saw borders shift, lost his homeland and settled on the rolling hills of Rosazzo in the late 1930s to give Friulian viticulture a new future. What this winegrower has built up is now one of the leading names in the north-east. The Rosato is, in the estate’s own words, “a new way of expressing the most characteristic thing we have: the character of our terroir.” 85% Merlot, 15% Pinot Nero, from flysch soils of Eocene origin – that characteristic alternation of marl and sandstone which distinguishes the Collio and Rosazzo from the rest of Italy. Pinot Nero is harvested at the end of August – earlier than Merlot, which follows in mid-September. The grapes are placed in small crates, gently destemmed, cold-pressed, and the must clarified by decanting. Fermentation takes place in steel and terracotta, with ageing on the lees.

"The grapes come from the highest vineyard on our estate, in Monforte d'Alba, at an altitude of about 530 metres above sea level. Here, the climatic conditions ensure the freshness and acidity that make Riesling one of the most famous grape varieties in the world and one of our great passions." Franco Massolino

In 1962, Egidio Corradi bought two neglected poderi in Cervognano – a Genovese broker who had spent most of his life away from Tuscany but had always known where he wanted to return. Boscarelli's first bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appeared in 1968. Since then, this main line has hardly changed in terms of composition and ageing. This is not hesitation – it is conviction. Prugnolo Gentile and Canaiolo, from vines aged 10 years or more on the red, sandy, mineral-rich soils of Cervognano, 280 to 350 metres, east-facing, 6,500 vines per hectare.

On the sand – the name already reveals the secret of this extraordinary interpretation of Gewürztraminer. A work of art of aromatic perfection springs from the sandy, calcareous soils of various locations in the lowlands between 240 and 370 metres. From Tramin to the Margreider Schuttkegel to Lake Kaltern and the Eisack Valley, Lageder combines the many facets of this traditional grape variety into a harmonious composition. The biodynamic Demeter cultivation of these selected plots follows the natural rhythms of the landscape. The secret lies in the staggered harvest: As the southern sites are all very hot, Lageder deliberately sets early accents and harvests the grapes at different stages of ripeness – sometimes even with noble rot. One part is vinified spontaneously with whole grapes, the rest matures for nine months partly in stainless steel and partly in large wooden barrels on the fine lees.

Pale straw yellow in colour with a fine, lively perlage. The bouquet shows clear signs of citrus fruit, yellow peach and green apple, accompanied by a fine bread crust flavour and a salty hint. Dry and elegantly structured on the palate, with taut acidity, fine mousse and astonishing finesse. Thanks to 24 months of ageing on the lees, the texture is creamy, the finish long, mineral and characterised by subtle almond notes – a Lugana in sparkling guise that impressively emphasises the potential of the indigenous Turbiana as a sparkling wine. SUPERIORE.DE

A finely conceived rosé sparkling wine with a regional identity and elegant craftsmanship. The harmonious blend of autochthonous grape varieties – groppello, Marzemino, Barbera and Sangiovese grapes – defines clarity and origin, while the 24-month yeast ageing gives the wine expression, creaminess and depth. In the glass, it shines in a delicate salmon pink colour with a lively, fine-pored perlage. The nose seduces with floral nuances of rose petals, red berries and tangerine peel, subtly accompanied by yeast tones and a hint of almond biscuits. Fresh and harmonious on the palate, with clear acidity, a juicy, fruity centre and elegant salty minerality. The perlage is silky, the structure finely balanced, the final long, dry and characterised by a delicate bitter almond note. A rosé sparkling wine full of character that combines the regionality of Valtènesi with a modern sparkling wine style – refined depth with a high drinking flow and clear origin. SUPERIORE.DE

Schiopetto's delicious Malvasia seduces with multi-layered flavours of crushed apple, spices, smoke, raw almonds and white flowers. It has a silky texture and envelops the palate with fragrant waves of ripe melon and orchard fruit, enlivened by lively acidity. It offers a seductive interplay of savoury and sweet flavours and has a long but also incredibly fresh finish. This wine is simply stunning and yet still as youthfully closed as it is today. Patience is required to experience the full effect. SUPERIORE.DE

While Lagrein traditionally dominates rosé production in South Tyrol, Franz Haas goes his own way. As a Pinot Nero specialist who has vinified and meticulously documented 592 different Pinot Nero versions in over three decades, he devotes the same attention to his rosé. The vines for this wine grow on Guyot vines at extreme altitudes of between 700 and 750 metres – significantly higher than usual for rosé. Grapes of exceptional quality ripen on dolomite weathered rock, with a high planting density and selected clones. Only 5,000 bottles are produced annually. Vinification consistently follows the white wine method: after destemming, the grapes are pressed directly, without maceration. The must ferments at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, undergoes malolactic fermentation and matures for several months before being bottled. This purist approach preserves the freshness and elegance that can be expected from Pinot Nero at altitude.

Produced in just 6,000 bottles per vintage, Godenza from the vineyard of the same name undergoes spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, followed by temperature-controlled maceration in stainless steel tanks. After malolactic fermentation, it then matures for 12 months in cement vats and at least 9 months in the bottle. Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, it is characterised by its complex and open bouquet with aromas of small red berries and spices. On the palate, it is firm and clear with a wonderful balance between acidity and ripe flavours and has a very respectable, slightly salty and spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Monogramma is a philosophy: we wait. Whilst standard Traminer is harvested at the usual stage of ripeness, Mario Pojer and Fiorentino Sandri leave their best plots on the vine for a further 10 to 12 days. What happens during this time is not overripeness – ; it is a concentration, a densification of the aromas, a slow transformation of fresh fruit into something more complex. Gewürztraminer is, in any case, one of the most expressive grape varieties in the world. Normally: rose, peach, lychee, elderflower – — explosive, direct, immediate. In the Spätlese selection from the plots in Faedo/Coveli (300m) and Cembra (450m), an additional dimension emerges: tropical fruit, spices, a deep, rich texture that the wine develops through the late harvest. The house method remains the same: washing the grapes, pressing in a controlled atmosphere without oxygen. What ends up in the glass is solely a reflection of the place and the time.

Pinot Bianco reveals its aristocratic side at the high altitude of the "Zuc di Volpe". The privileged single vineyard site near Togliano offers ideal conditions for this elegant grape variety: cool nights, calcareous soils and excellent aeration, which allows for slow, balanced ripening. The 2021 vintage was characterised by moderate temperatures and a stable late summer, which led to perfect physiological ripeness and excellent freshness. The ageing in stainless steel tanks with extended maturation on the fine lees preserves the clear fruit while adding depth and structure. The nose reveals aromas of white peach, pear and a hint of camomile, underpinned by a fine nutty note. Finely crafted and precise on the palate, with a creamy texture, firm minerality and a long, balanced finish.

Roberto Giannelli was a real estate agent. A Florentine who had little to do with Brunello – until someone offered him an estate for sale in the east of Montalcino in 2003. He drove there, saw the vineyards, the old walls, the view over the hills. And bought it. This is how the best wine stories sometimes begin: not with a plan, but with a feeling. Today, San Filippo is one of the most reliable houses in the entire Brunello region – organic since 2013, with the Le Lucère-Brunello, which James Suckling once gave a full 100 points.

The Nerello Mascalese vines for this exceptional rosato grow on the northern slopes of Mount Etna at an altitude of over 600 metres – barren, stony soils of pure lava rock characterise the microclimate and give the wine its clear contours. The wine is matured purely in stainless steel to emphasise freshness, purity and terroir expression. Delicate pink in the glass with a copper-coloured shimmer. The bouquet is elegant and restrained: wild strawberry, pink grapefruit, a hint of blood orange and some fennel green. Lively on the palate, with juicy fruit, animating acidity and mineral tension. The cool finish is dry, precise and surprisingly long. An Etna Rosato with Alpine freshness and Mediterranean soul – ideal for warm evenings, grilled fish or a classic insalata di mare. SUPERIORE.DE

Solicchiata, northern slope of Mount Etna, 800 metres. The Faro family has dug deep into the volcano here since 2005 – literally, because the sandy soils of weathered lava rock allow roots to travel far. 100% Nerello Mascalese, Alberello, vines between 50 and 65 years old. Hand-picked, two weeks of maceration, three months in fine-grained oak barrels. Not a wood wine – a volcanic wine. Brilliant ruby red colour in the glass. The nose opens dark and complex: boysenberry, crushed black cherry, wild flowers, ash, a hint of rosemary and thyme, pink pepper. Silky and medium-bodied on the palate – juicy acidity, fine tannins, a persistent mineral flavour. The finish is long and tense, with a tart cherry flavour that lingers. Not an easy entry-level wine, but a beautiful red with substance and good potential. SUPERIORE.DE

40 years after acquiring the Montalcino branch Campogiovanni, the Tuscan flagship winery San Felice, which belongs to the Allianz insurance group, has decided on a further expansion called Bell'Aja. In the Bolgheri locality of Le Sondraie, 6 hectares of vineyards with clayey-sandy soils were selected, where mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were planted over 12 years ago. There are only two wines from this new Bell'Aja appellation, Bolgheri Rosso and Bolgheri Rosso Superiore.