Veronelli

The grapes are harvested at the end of August when they are ripe and then dried in the fruit cellar in 5kg crates at 23⁰C. After around 40 days, when half their weight has been lost, the grapes are pressed and the resulting must, which is particularly rich in sugar, ferments slowly at 18°C for over a month in stainless steel containers, where it remains until bottling. Light golden yellow in colour, with a fine bouquet of orange blossom, some quince, apricot and peach. Sparkling on the palate with surprisingly lively acidity, spreads out beautifully, with orange peel and some grapefruit on the long final. SUPERIORE.DE

Bolgheri Rosso 2023 conveys a powerful image with Mediterranean gravitas. The grapes come from the windy slopes between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri – an ancient region that Grattamacco characterised in 1977 as one of the first important addresses alongside Sassicaia. Brilliant ruby colour with a sparkling rim in the glass. The nose opens with dark fruits such as sour cherry and plum, along with delicately bitter-sweet spices, leather notes and a hint of Mediterranean herbs. Velvety and full-bodied on the palate, with juicy fruit, subtle tobacco notes and a lively, fresh acidity. Fine-grained tannins provide tension and respectable length. The mineral-influenced, gripping finish bears the unmistakable signature of the Bolgheri coast. A cleverly crafted, very inviting red wine with beautiful fidelity to its origins. SUPERIORE.DE

Even older than the Bianco: Ca' del Bosco first vinified this red wine, known in the local tradition as "burdonsì magher", back in 1975 – a testimony to Franciacorta's ancient vocation for red grapes, long before the Spumanti came to characterise the region. The name travelled from Franciacorta Rosso DOC to Terre di Franciacorta and Curtefranca Rosso until it became Corte del Lupo in 2016: The farm and the wolf as a symbol of terroir and quality. The cuvée combines 49% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Carménère and 9% Cabernet Franc from eight certified organic vineyards. After the harvest, each individual grape is washed and gently dried – the famous "Metodo Ca' del Bosco" – before fermentation takes place entirely in small oak barrels.

A wine that inspires with the utmost precision and emotional depth: Libenter (Latin: with pleasure) is the consistent pinnacle of the red line from Tavignano. The cuvée of Montepulciano, Sangiovese and a discreet proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon develops a remarkable complexity after 14–18 months in small oak barrels, it develops a remarkable complexity. Each vine contributes to the intense structure, each grape to the harmonious whole.

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

The grapes for this elegant Metodo Classico come from loose limestone soils with a clay content from the Überetsch and Unterland regions. The three grape varieties are vinified separately, gently pressed and fermented at a controlled temperature of 14°-16°C. The wine is matured in stainless steel on the lees of the first fermentation until spring. The wine is matured in stainless steel on the lees from the first fermentation until spring. Bright straw yellow in colour, fine and persistent perlage, fruity aroma with a subtle hint of yeast and flint. Fresh, dry and very persistent on the palate, with a pleasant aftertaste of dried fruit and a saline touch. SUPERIORE.DE

There are wines that possess that unmistakable clarity that summarises the terroir in a nutshell. The classic Barbaresco from Fontanabianca is one such wine – composed from various parcels around Neive, vinified with the precision that Matteo Pola has made the philosophy of the house in the third generation. Where the single vineyards Bordini and Serraboella express the specific characteristics of their crus, this Barbaresco paints the bigger picture: 5.5 hectares on the typical limestone-clay soils of the municipality, 300 metres above sea level, where Nebbiolo has been developing the elegance that Neive stands for in the world of Barbaresco for generations.

Castello di Monsanto's Chianti Classico Riserva is a fabulous wine that punches well above its weight. Dark cherry, plum, liquorice, spice, leather, lavender and tobacco run through this wonderfully nuanced and vibrant Riserva. It is surprisingly expressive and open even at a young age and will continue to drink well for over 15 years. Sweet floral notes extend the finish of this medium-bodied, graceful and well-structured wine. Interesting Storage potential! SUPERIORE.DE

In 1966, when the Italian wine world was at a crossroads, Domenico Poggiali took the bold step of acquiring the then neglected lands of Castelnuovo Berardenga. His son-in-law Giuseppe Mazzocolin, the humanist professor and friend of Luigi Veronelli, subsequently turned this adventure into a legend. Together with the young OenologistFranco Bernabei, they created the first Berardenga in 1967 – a Sangiovese that epitomises the true essence of south-eastern Chianti Classico. The vineyards extend over the geologically heterogeneous terraces between 320 and 420 metres above sea level, where quartz-rich sandstone and calcareous Alberese in the upper areas meet sandstone and clay towards the Crete Senesi. This "Terra di Confine" – the borderland between Chianti Classico and the Colli Senesi – characterises the unmistakable character.

Impressively structured Chardonnay from the Kreuth estate. The western vineyard produces a very elegant wine that impresses with its fine acidity, creamy structure and elegant interplay of flavours. Bright, radiant straw yellow in colour. Complex and balanced, with an abundance of tropical fruit, underlined by a sensual salty minerality. Long and persistent. SUPERIORE.DE

Morellino di Scansano Riserva from Morisfarms shows why this traditional family winery is a firm favourite in Maremma. The cuvée is predominantly based on Sangiovese (Morellino), supplemented by small proportions of international varieties. The vines grow on sun-drenched hills between the Tyrrhenian coast and the cool foothills of Monte Amiata, whose clay and sandy soils lend the wine fruit and structure. The 2020 vintage in Maremma was characterised by a stable summer without extreme heat and cool nights during ripening. This resulted in grapes with deep fruit and lively acidity. Careful manual harvesting was followed by temperature-controlled fermentation, after which the Riserva matured for 12 months in a combination of barriques and large wooden barrels to harmoniously combine elegance and complexity.

I Giganti Rosso Tharros consists almost exclusively of Nieddera, an indigenous, little-known grape variety from the Sinis region. The grapes ripen on soils rich in limestone and clay, influenced by the sea breeze and intense sunshine. Careful hand-picking is followed by intensive maceration over 8-10 days, followed by 12 months of ageing in barriques and tonneaux – a combination that gives both depth and elegance. In the glass, it has a deep ruby red colour with lively reflections. The nose is characterised by ripe plum, black cherry and a hint of balsamic herbs, complemented by liquorice and a floral spice. Full-bodied and supple on the palate: seductive fruit meets fine tannins and a clear structure. The texture is velvety, the freshness noticeable and the finish long, mineral and spicy – almost cool in its after-effect.

The porphyry-rich steep slopes on the Ritten above Bolzano offer first-class conditions for producing a Sauvignon Bianco with unique fruit, minerality, elegance and depth. Straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. Precise fruity flavours of gooseberry, elderflower, herbs, yeast and a fine woody note. Harmonious flavour with very well-integrated acidity, an accentuated body and an elegant mineral note. Long and deep on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"La Procura" - "The Public Prosecutor's Office". The names of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines are reminiscent of his father's world as a notary.

Aristocratic, amphora-aged natural wine made from 100 per cent Zibibbo with a reductive, floral bouquet, notes of white and yellow stone fruit and a savoury, spicy herbal aroma. The flavours meld with great elegance on the palate, with delicate notes of peach and exotic fruit, long, fresh, mineral and an extremely interesting finish. Be sure to aerate sufficiently before drinking! SUPERIORE.DE

Subtle but tantalising aromas of yellow pear, smoke, citrus and hazelnut lift from the glass, along with a hint of cedar. The flavours continue on the elegantly structured palate, along with citrus peel and a hint of acacia honey. It shows the ageing potential of Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo and is a serious white wine that is suitable not only as an aperitif but also as an accompaniment to an entire meal. Piquant and impressive. SUPERIORE.DE

The steep porphyry slopes at an altitude of up to 650 metres on the Ritten above Bolzano offer ideal conditions for vinifying this powerful yet elegant Chardonnay with outstanding balance, well-integrated acidity and excellent ageing potential. Straw yellow in colour with greenish inclusions. Pure exotic flavours of pineapple, mango and white peach on the nose, underpinned by a delicate vanilla note. Powerful on the palate, the well-integrated acidity keeps it fresh and mineral despite its power and complexity, right through to an almost infinitely long finish. A great Chardonnay from South Tyrol! SUPERIORE.DE

The organically certified Sangiovese grapes for this Chianti Classico are grown in the legendary Conca d'Oro south of Panzano, that amphitheatrical Golden Valley with its unique microclimate of warm days and cool nights. Giovanni Manetti, president of the Consorzio Chianti Classico, vinifies exclusively hand-picked grapes in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts on the chalky Galestro soils of his 170-hectare Tenuta. After three weeks of maceration, the wine matures for 18 months in French oak barrels of various sizes.

Don Luigi Riserva is the distinctive flagship of Di Majo Norante – named after the patriarch of the winery and an expression of deep respect for origin, tradition and passion. Only the ripest Montepulciano grapes are selected from the Contrada Camarda near Ramitello, around 100 - 150 metres above sea level on soils rich in limestone and clay. The wine is produced after a long maceration period and then matures for 12–18 months in French barriques, followed by several months of rest in the bottle – a process that produces both concentration and this impressive harmony.

A declaration of love for Tuscany is how the Ferragamos describe their most pure expression. The Vigna Polissena lies on slate soils with perfect drainage, a terroir made for Sangiovese. James Suckling once compared the wines produced here to the best Brunellos. The must rests on the skins for twenty-two days before being transferred to Allier barriques – a third of which are new. For eighteen months, the wood moulds the structure without masking the character. A further six months in steel give the wine time to find its feet.

Punggl is a word from the dialect of the South Tyrolean lowlands that refers to a small hill. But this inconspicuous name stands for one of the region's most renowned vineyards: at the foot of the Fennberg, south of Margreid, rises the eponymous hill with its precious alluvial soils of fine sand, silt and clay deposits. Here, where the Mediterranean climate of the warm valley floor meets the thermals of the Alps, the Merlot finds ideal conditions for a ripeness that combines vigour and finesse. From April to October, constant air currents characterise the microclimate of the site. The warm afternoon wind that rises from Lake Garda through the Adige Valley and the cool morning breeze from the north create an interplay that allows the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. The vines, grafted onto low-growing rootstock and trained using the Guyot system, are tended with the utmost care.

Perfection is created when grape variety, terroir and microclimate form a perfect symbiosis. Thalman embodies this philosophy to perfection. This exceptional Pinot Nero comes from carefully selected vineyards on the Ritten and in Leitach between 500 and 750 metres above sea level, where warm, well-ventilated hills and volcanic porphyry soils create ideal conditions. The centuries-old Burgundy tradition finds its South Tyrolean interpretation here through a vinification process that combines respect for the grape variety with state-of-the-art cellar technology.

Pale pink with orange reflections. Elegant, fine aroma of flowers and roses, small red berries and herbs and the typical bread and yeast flavour. Very supple on the palate, fresh and forward, the acidity is agile and the mousse is soft and fine. A mouthful of red berries and a very broad range of herb and spice flavours are wonderfully enveloped by a fresh acidity that finishes this very long wine with a fruity, tart and salty note. SUPERIORE.DE