Vintage 2024

Buchholz – as early as the Austrian land register of 1858, the name referred to the valley slopes above Salurn, where terraced vineyards lie on dolomite sedimentary rock at altitudes between 400 and 800 metres. Peter Zemmer, whose family has been making wine in Kurtinig on the Weinstraße since 1928, has chosen this diverse site for his Chardonnay: a mosaic of microclimates and soils that combines alpine freshness with southern ripeness. In the mornings, the breeze from the north cools the vines; in the afternoons, the ‘Ora’ from the south warms them: a daily cycle that gives the grapes time to develop. The winemaking process is deliberately restrained: a short cold maceration to preserve the fruit, followed by fermentation at 19°C in large wooden barrels.

An elegant, finely sparkling and invigorating Prosecco Brut with irresistible charm. Straw yellow, crystal clear and clean, with fresh aromas of white peach and apple, wonderfully light, yet precise, fruity and with a fine salty note on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

Riesling is a rarity in Piedmont. However, the grape variety finds ideal conditions in carefully selected, higher-lying plots: sunny days for aromatic ripeness, cool nights for acid freshness. Re di Fiori is matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve the pure fruit and fine tension of the variety. A white wine full of character that interprets the classic German grape variety in a Piedmontese style. Rare, authentic and with a subtle aristocratic flavour.

Between the legendary Bricco Boschis and Monprivato crus lies a small parcel of just 2.25 hectares that epitomises Cavallotto's answer to the question: What does Barolo excellence taste like in Dolcetto format? The Vigna Scot, with its east-north-east exposure, benefits from the same chalky, clayey geology that gives the great Baroli their structure. The grapes undergo traditional vinification with indigenous yeasts and short 3-4 day maceration, followed by six months in 50-hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels and a further six months in concrete tanks. This double maturation creates the characteristic texture: structured but smooth.

In the gentle hills between Gran Sasso and Majella, where the silhouettes of Abruzzo stand out against the sky, a palazzo baronale has been enthroned since the 17th century, telling a very special love story. Castello di Semivicoli – once the summer residence of Sicilian nobles, later a military hospital, then a derelict ruin – was purchased by Gianni Masciarelli as a gift for his wife and, after years of restoration work, was transformed into one of the most beautiful wine resorts in Abruzzo. The Pecorino vines that now surround the historic building are rooted at an altitude of 380 metres in the calcareous soils of the Provincia Chieti, which have always been prized for their mineral complexity. Here, where the maritime influences of the Adriatic meet the continental mountain climate, white wines of characteristic freshness and distinct territoriality are produced.

"My research into the world of white wines led to the creation of this unconventional wine. I have always realised that the most interesting aspect of Vermentino is in the skin. It is a delicious grape to eat, rich in aromatic notes. That's why I wanted to vinify Vermentino from the Le Gonnare vineyard, a small plot planted in 1987, and leave the skins to macerate with the must for 6 days during alcoholic fermentation. This has led to more aroma and the characteristic golden colour without making it heavy. A full-bodied and at the same time very cheerful wine." Fabio Motta

Dolcetto – is often dismissed as an uncomplicated everyday wine. Not so with Elena and Luca. For them, Dolcetto is the perfect introductory tool for young wine drinkers, their first encounter with the Langhe, so to speak. That's why they vinify it with the same dedication as their Nebbioli: the grapes come from three small vineyards in San Sebastiano (Monforte d'Alba), vines that are on average 40 years old in an area of exceptional biodiversity. Ten days of simple wild yeast fermentation with minimal pumping over, followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation in the spring. Short barrel ageing, bottling in summer – the result is a Dolcetto that combines tradition and modernity.

700 to 800 metres above sea level, in the Piana degli Albanesi south of Palermo – where Sicily ceases to be what one might expect. Tenuta Ficuzza lies at the heart of a vast nature reserve, with woodlands, Mediterranean scrub and vineyards woven into the landscape like a mosaic. Here, Chardonnay has found a home that reminds it of Burgundy – without copying it. Jalé is produced from the historic single vineyard "del Ventaglio", named for its fan-shaped layout. The altitude creates temperature fluctuations that Chardonnay rarely experiences on this island: slow ripening, cool fruit, natural tension. Hand-harvested in early August, cold maceration, fermentation in oldLiters – no new wood to overpower the wine, but rather a subtle integration. Six months sur lies, then bottled.

A classic from the Collio region, masterfully interpreted: Livio Felluga's Pinot Grigio impresses with its depth, precision and expression of terroir. The vines are rooted in the famous "Flysch di Cormòns" – calcareous marl and sandstone formations that lend the wine its subtle minerality. In the glass, it is a luminous straw yellow with golden highlights. The aroma is delicate and complex: white peaches, ripe pears and a hint of citrus zest, complemented by floral notes and a touch of toasted hazelnut. On the palate, it is dry, supple and well-structured, with well-integrated acidity and an elegant finish. This is no run-of-the-mill summer wine, but a Pinot Grigio to be taken seriously, with substance, which clearly benefits from the estate's style – unpretentious, clear and with fine depth. SUPERIORE.DE

The vines, which are over 50 years old, lie outside the Chianti Classico appellation and were planted by Fabrizio Bianchi back in the 1970s as a sort of "labour of love". Inspired by the great white wines of Burgundy, it was initially fermented exclusively in wooden barrels. Since 2000, however, the proportion of grapes fermented in oak has fallen steadily, so that today almost 70% of the grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks, which lends the wine freshness and elegance. Delicate fruit, with barely perceptible oak. Fresh and of medium body on the palate; its Burgundian character, along with its lovely structure and length, gradually come to the fore. A refined and fruit-driven Chardonnay that wonderfully embodies both its grape variety and the terroir, whilst never seeming heavy or overbearing. SUPERIORE.DE

This exceptional rosé comes from the high altitudes of Gaiole in Chianti and epitomises the innovative power of the legendary Castello di Ama winery. The estate, run by Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti, has been producing rosé wines since 1982, but Purple Rosé has marked a turning point in Tuscan rosé vinification since 2017. The speciality of this wine lies in its revolutionary production method: the precious juice is extracted from the best Sangiovese must containers after around twelve hours of skin contact using the saignée process. While fermentation traditionally takes place in stainless steel tanks, Purple Rosé matures part of the must in second-use French barriques – an innovation that gives the Rosato exceptional longevity and complexity. The grapes thrive on the chalky, clayey soils between 460 and 525 metres above sea level, where the cooler microclimate shapes the characteristic finesse of Castello di Ama wines. The mild climate in this special location between Gaiole and Radda, which is fresher than the surrounding area, is responsible for the elegant acidity and delicate floral nuances.

The name Gaun takes us back to the 17th century, when the noble family of the same name owned the Löwengang estate – a tribute to the historic roots of Lageder's ancestral home. Since 1934, when Alois III planted the first Chardonnay vines in Margreid, this wine has been regarded as a pioneer for international grape varieties in South Tyrol. The calcareous gravel soils around Margreid, Kurtatsch and Salurn, where Mediterranean influences meet Alpine coolness, produce grapes of exceptional minerality. During vinification, Lageder focuses on salinity and tension: part of the batch ferments spontaneously with whole bunches, allowing tannins from the skins and stems to accentuate the natural freshness.

Livio Felluga's Friulano is very fresh and tropical, with nuances of sour melon, young mango and white smoke forming its attractive bouquet. It impresses with a lively acidity that balances the silky texture and ripe fruit, and with a spicy herbal note that gives it unexpected depth. Perfumed and fresh to the final, leaving a pleasant mouthfeel, with hints of bitter almond but also a gentle streak of residual tension. Very nice. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for the Sul Vulcano Rosato come from the northern slopes of Mount Etna, where Nerello Mascalese thrives on volcanic soils in a cool, high-altitude climate. The grapes are harvested early, gently pressed and matured exclusively in stainless steel tanks to emphasise the freshness and finesse of the variety. Pale pink in the glass with a salmon-coloured shimmer – stylish and precise. The nose smells of white cherry, wild strawberry, some citrus and a fine hint of wild herbs and flint. Straightforward, cool and silky on the palate with clear fruit, gripping freshness and minerality. The volcanic origin is evident in the salty depth, which lingers for a long time. A sophisticated rosato with a cool alpine profile and subtle energy – ideal with refined seafood dishes, grilled vegetables or sophisticated summer cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

A Sauvignon Blanc from the Collio that seduces rather than provokes. Pale straw yellow with a green tinge in the glass. The nose is complex but never overpowering: elderflower, grapefruit, green pepper, whitecurrant and a hint of sage. Juicy and precise on the palate, with lively acidity, firm structure and cool mineral depth. The maturation in stainless steel tanks emphasises the clarity and aromatic tension of the wine, without tipping over into a garish "gooseberry" flavour. A stylistically finely balanced Sauvignon that brings the potential of the Collio into the bottle with quiet sophistication and authentic terroir expression. Good ageing potential, as is to be expected with all Livio Felluga whites. SUPERIORE.DE

A Chardonnay with Friulian soul: the combination of high altitudes, barren flysch soils and temperate climate gives this wine freshness, finesse and character. Light golden yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. The bouquet is inviting and balanced: yellow apple, white flowers, lemon and a hint of exotic fruit - underpinned by delicate almond and a hint of vanilla, without ever appearing overloaded. On the palate, it is dry, harmonious and clearly contoured, with lively acidity and a fine melting texture. The ageing in stainless steel preserves precision and varietal typicity. A Chardonnay that moves stylistically between freshness and substance - elegant, straightforward and with a noticeable imprint of origin and winemaker's craft. SUPERIORE.DE

"Frauenrigl" – an old field name for one of the warmest vineyard sites above the wine route near Kurtatsch in the South Tyrolean lowlands. On calcareous gravel soils with loamy earth, a Gewürztraminer full of character thrives here under ideal sunlight and perfect aeration, which fulfils all the requirements of this demanding grape variety. After six to eight hours of cold maceration, the grapes are gently pressed and clarified by natural sedimentation before controlled fermentation takes place at 18°C in stainless steel tanks.

This single-varietal Carricante from Tenuta Tascante comes from the districts of Feudo in Castiglione di Sicilia and Salice in Milo. The vineyards grow at an altitude of 600 metres on the north side of Mount Etna on volcanic sedimentary soils from different eras. The majority of the grapes grow on a terrace in Contrada Sciaranuova. Vinified in cool stainless steel, this white wine retains the mineral clarity and sulphurous notes of the indigenous grape variety. Linear and vertical, it presents itself with the characteristic acidity of Carricante, showing volcanic vigour in elegant purity. An authentic Etna character with four months of ageing on the lees that brings the aura of the volcano directly into the glass. SUPERIORE.DE

The Tenuta Capofaro of Tasca is located on the Aeolian Islands off the north-eastern tip of Sicily. The name of this fresh and aromatic Malvasia is dedicated to the former owner Paola Lantieri, who cultivated the 4.5-hectare vineyard with great dedication. The vines grow on mineral soils of ash, fine brown sand, pumice and silicate.

The grapes come exclusively from the single vineyard San Pietro, and since the 2018 vintage, part of the wine has been aged in amphorae. Berries, liquorice and deep red fruit on the nose. Finely woven and very precise structure, a bright, open personality and class on the palate. Sheer elegance and Clerico enjoyment without waiting for further ageing. SUPERIORE.DE