Syrah

The Syrah grapes used for the Tareni are grown in western Sicily at an altitude of 100 metres, on clay soil, with mild winters, little rainfall and a very hot, windy summer. The grapes are harvested between late August and early September; following partial maceration at a low temperature, the wine ferments under temperature control and is then aged for four months in stainless steel. Violet-red in colour, with a pronounced bouquet of ripe red fruits, sour cherry and pomegranate, complemented by cloves and pink pepper. Fresh and intense on the palate, with juiciness and pleasantly firm tannins. Sicily provides the sunshine; this Syrah provides the freshness. SUPERIORE.DE

100% Syrah from the south coast of Sicily, characterised by the warm climate and the limestone-rich soils around Butera. In the glass, the wine is dark ruby in colour with violet reflections. The bouquet is intense and spicy: black cherry, blackberry, some black pepper and fine roasted flavours. Powerful and juicy on the palate, with soft tannins, a mild, well-supporting acidity and a pleasantly spicy final. A versatile, modern red with a clear structure. SUPERIORE.DE

The Sallier de la Tour winery has been owned by the Counts Tasca since 2009, making it the fifth company that complements and characterises the diversity and professionalism of what is probably Sicily's most famous winery. Aromatic bouquet of sweet cherries and wild berries. Clear on the palate with a beautiful fruit centre and a radiant freshness, appealing finish. A beautiful Syrah that impressively demonstrates Sicily's potential for international grape varieties. SUPERIORE.DE

Tellus was the Roman goddess of the earth, whose festival was celebrated by the ancient Romans on 15 April. The name is fitting for a wine that has been linked to the art world from the very beginning – its label was originally designed in Rome, where artists left their mark at Castel Sant'Angelo. Since its tenth anniversary, Tellus has also been part of a social project: children from the estate's own Fattoria Tellus design their own labels, with a portion of the proceeds going to charitable initiatives. The grapes are grown in Castiglione in Teverina, at an altitude of 300 metres, on sandy soil of medium texture, using the spur pruning method. Following the harvest in the second week of September, there is a four-day cold maceration at 18 to 20°C, which preserves the grapes' natural freshness and fruitiness. The wine is then fermented in steel tanks at 25 to 27°C for a total of 14 days, before malolactic fermentation is completed in oak.

Brilliant ruby red in the glass with a purple shimmer – youthful and inviting. The aroma combines ripe blackberries, black cherries, a hint of violets and subtle peppery spice, typical of the Mediterranean Syrah style. On the palate, La Clarissa is supple and juicy, with ripe fruit, soft tannins and a fresh acidity. Ageing in stainless steel tanks preserves precision and varietal character. An uncomplicated but well-made Syrah for every day – with Sicilian soul and Mediterranean flavour. Perfect with pasta al ragù, grilled vegetables or simply chilled for a cosy evening on the terrace. SUPERIORE.DE

The Tenuta Sallier de la Tour is located in Monreale – a few kilometres from the sea, nestled in the gentle foothills of the Valle dello Jato. Coastal winds, pronounced temperature fluctuations between day and night, fresh sandy soils of medium texture: conditions that give the Syrah a naturalness and freshness that cannot be taken for granted in the Sicilian summer heat. 100% Syrah, harvested by hand, traditional white wine vinification, fermentation at 14 °C, three months on the fine lees in steel. No malolactic fermentation – the acidity remains lively, the fruit direct. Madamarosé is the antithesis of La Monaca Syrah from the same estate: the same grape variety, a completely different result.

Pian di Nova embodies a carefully crafted blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese, combining the international vigour of the Syrah grape with the lively fruitiness of Tuscan Sangiovese. It represents a new generation of Tuscan red wines that strike a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation. The hand-picked grapes come from organically farmed vineyards at the foot of Monte Pratomagno, where loamy-sandy soils at an altitude of 200 metres provide optimal drainage. After being cooled to 5°C overnight, the grape varieties are vinified separately: two days' cold maceration, ten days' controlled fermentation at 25–28°C, followed by a further 20 days' skin maceration. Six months' ageing in Allier oak barriques, one month in steel tanks and a further six months' bottle ageing complete this elegant blend.

Achelo is named after the river god Achelous, whose horned head appears time and again in the Etruscan art of Cortona – a motif featured on La Braccesca's Cortona DOC Syrah. The grapes come from the vineyards of the Antinori estate between Montepulciano and the hills of Cortona, on loamy-clay soil. Established in 1999, the Cortona DOC is regarded in Tuscany as one of the few appellations producing excellent Merlot and, above all, Syrah. Following fermentation in stainless steel tanks, part of the wine is aged in previously used French barriques, whilst the remainder remains in the stainless steel tanks.

In 1672, the Bishop of Montalcino, Fabivs de' Vecchis, wanted to build a palace. The result is what is now the Palazzo Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona itself. Giuseppe Bianchini named this wine after the bishop – a small tribute to the history of the estate, where a single-varietal Syrah has been produced from the Vigna del Conte since 1998. The French vines grow on medium-grained soils rich in Eocene marl, at altitudes of 240 to 360 metres. The terroir and microclimate of this plot are exceptionally well-suited to this grape variety, which remains a rarity in Tuscany. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and glazed concrete tanks, with temperature control via cooling plates. Ageing occurs in small 3-hectolitre oak barrels – a size that combines intense extraction with a fine structure.

Maroccoli, around four hundred metres above sea level near Sambuca di Sicilia – where limestone with sandy layers forms the foundation and cool night air from the sea provides finesse, while the days are flooded with Sicilian sunshine. Diego Planeta recognised early on that Syrah on this island could be more than just an international variety: a hymn to the Mediterranean light, dry heat and barren soil that forces the vine to fight. The microfauna here is extremely active, the vines have to conquer their water – and produce grapes of exceptional ripeness and concentration.

A Syrah from 750 metres above sea level - only a few can achieve this. In the cool mountain air of the upper Aosta Valley, La Tour matures in south-east exposure on sandy moraine soils. Hand-picking, meticulous selection and ageing in barriques give the wine finesse and depth. Dense ruby colour with a purple core in the glass. Black olive, blueberry, dark pepper, a hint of violet and toasted wood on the nose. Cool and structured on the palate, with firm tannins, noble spice and a fine mineral length. Not an overloaded power wine, but a precise, Alpine Syrah with fresh character and tension - a real statement from Italy's highest wine region. SUPERIORE.DE

A deep, dark, sparkling ruby red. The bouquet offers an opulent array of dark red fruits, intense and full-bodied. Right from the very first sip, it displays a depth that is unrivalled in this price range. It is nothing short of spectacular to witness the heights to which this wine is capable of elevating the connoisseur. Yet it always impresses with an indescribable balance. Maharis is never cloying or jammy; rather, its medley of dark fruits, spices, aged leather and a subtle smoky note is always perfectly balanced with a truly surprising freshness and vibrancy. final is long, velvety and richly textured. Magnificent! SUPERIORE.DE

Syrah in Sicily - this is no longer a surprise. But Achilles, Zisola's top single-varietal wine, gives the grape variety on the chalky hills near Noto a new expressiveness: powerful, deep and at the same time controlled, with that polished precision that does not seek to imitate, but to shape independently. The grapes come from small plots with a high proportion of limestone in the soil, close to the coast. The warm climate is tempered by constant air circulation - ideal conditions for even ripening. After selective manual harvesting, spontaneous fermentation takes place in conical tanks, followed by ageing for around 16 months in French barriques.

Pure Syrah from the volcano? This is not a matter of course, but a courageous commitment to the international grape variety, embedded in the alpine character of the northern slope of Etna. Sole di Sesta refers to the midday sun that hits the vines with full force in the terraced vineyards around Castiglione di Sicilia – flanked by cold downdraughts from Mount Etna, which balance out the day at night. The vines are rooted at 750 metres above sea level in sandy volcanic soil with a high stone content. The result is a Syrah that brings together the special origin and the international variety in an exciting balance.

Sì. One word, no compromises. The most direct promise a wine can make. Elena Celli and winemaker Luca D'Attoma founded Duemani in 2000 in Riparbella, on hills between 200 and 300 metres above sea level overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Biodynamic according to Demeter standards, uncompromising in its philosophy: Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot grown on soil with up to 40% clay content, limestone outcrops and pronounced salinity, stemming from the proximity to the coast and the sea breezes. A terroir that speaks for itself in the glass. Sì is 100% Syrah vinified as a rosé. Spontaneous fermentation takes place inLiters, in which the wine also spends its entire ageing period. No fining, no filtration.

Strong dark ruby colour. Pepper and spice accents, aromas of ripe red and dark fruit and a slightly animal note characterise the precise aroma. The perfect balance between tannin, silky elements and acidity guarantee a full-bodied flavour full of character. SUPERIORE.DE

Away from the dominance of Sangiovese in the Conca d'Oro, Giovanni Manetti shows the international side of Fontodi with this single-varietal Syrah. The hand-picked Syrah grapes grow in the south-facing single vineyards Case Via and Pecile around Villa Pecile, where the calcareous-clay soils and the Mediterranean microclimate with pronounced day-night temperature fluctuations prove to be ideal for the Rhône grape variety. After three weeks of spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, the organically certified wine matures for twelve months in French barriques from Troncais and Allier.

Matteo Ascheri is fascinated by the grape varieties of the Rhône Valley and produces an extremely small quantity of top-class single-varietal Syrah every year. What is also special about this wine is that it is not a stereotypical example of the well-known great Syrahs from California, France and Australia - quite the opposite: this is a balsamic wine with an intense bouquet of cherry, rosemary and traces of ginger. On the palate, it shines with freshness, intensity and an exciting potpourri of teriyaki spice, smoke, cherry and notes of smoked meat. Its impressive texture and a full, long finish make this Syrah experience unforgettable! SUPERIORE.DE

It was 1991 when Michele Satta planted his first Syrah vine in Bolgheri – an act of rebellion in a still young appellation that was just beginning to find its identity. The visionary winemaker from Varese followed a clear conviction: The Syrah should maximise the aromatic complexity of the Mediterranean terroir and at the same time express his personal identification with the great wines of the Rhône. Thirty years later, this exotic wine has matured into one of Bolgheri's most fascinating single-vineyard wines.

Maroccoli, around four hundred metres above sea level near Sambuca di Sicilia – where limestone with sandy layers forms the foundation and cool night air from the sea provides finesse, while the days are flooded with Sicilian sunshine. Diego Planeta recognised early on that Syrah on this island could be more than just an international variety: a hymn to the Mediterranean light, dry heat and barren soil that forces the vine to fight. The microfauna here is extremely active, the vines have to conquer their water – and produce grapes of exceptional ripeness and concentration.