Vintage 2025

Emilio Rotolo's Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso draws you into the glass with its deep, peppery black raspberry flavours, complemented by pretty violet and lavender tones. Wrapping the palate in a cloak of dark, ripe, textured fruit, it is incredibly elegant and polished, but also tangy. A layer of sweet tannins frames the expression and caresses the cheeks, while citrus fruit and a hint of spice linger. This is a very nice wine that will benefit from a slight chill. SUPERIORE.DE

Merus – Latin for "pure, unadulterated". A fitting name for the entry-level range from the Tiefenbrunner Castle Winery, which has had its roots in Kurtatsch since the 19th century. The grapes come from two complementary areas: the hillsides of Kurtatsch at altitudes of 400 to 600 metres and the plains of Margreid at 210 metres – height and depth, coolness and warmth, all united in a single wine.

Oenologist Stephan Filippi deliberately selects special vineyards in Überetsch and Ritten for this Sauvignon Bianco, where dry sandy soils and the alpine climate give the grape variety its characteristic expressiveness. Controlled vinification after the harvest harvest takes place exclusively in stainless steel in order to optimally preserve the natural freshness and flavour. Straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. In the glass, it immediately unfolds its typical vegetal spectrum: tomato leaves and nettles meet spicy sage, while yellow peach and lime provide fruity accents. Subtle acacia flowers round off the complex bouquet. On the palate, the delicate freshness paired with structural depth leads to a lingering, harmonious finish. SUPERIORE.DE

For almost thirty years, Karmis has been the flagship wine of Cantina Contini in Cabras – and it celebrates its anniversary in 2026. Created in the 1990s as an attempt to take Vernaccia di Oristano out of its niche and present it in a modern, more accessible guise, it has since become an icon of the company: a wine that combines tradition and the present in one glass. The grapes come from three different sites on the Sinis peninsula and its surroundings: the alluvial, sandy-clayey alluvial soil of the Valle del Tirso, the coastal sandy soils of the Sinis and the volcanic soils of the Terre di Ossidiana on Monte Arci – up to 200 metres above sea level. Vernaccia di Oristano and Vermentino, Spalliera and Alberello, Mediterranean climate with hot, windy summers and little rainfall. Gentle pressing, temperature-controlled fermentation in steel, periodic bâtonnage – then the bottle. A wine that can handle time well.

Bright straw yellow with a greenish tinge, inviting and clear. The grapes for this Gavi come from well-exposed, well-ventilated plots of land that develop an excellent terroir profile through natural cultivation and care. They ripened under the influence of the Mediterranean in the midst of calcareous, sandy soils – a combination that gives Cortese its fine minerality and aromatic finesse.

The MONSTER WINES from Tenuta di Tagignano are more than just a crazy experiment. They stand for pop, punk and freak. It is an exciting project of vinophile free spirits who combine serious and traditional winemaking with something new. The wines are produced according to the Metodo Ancestrale: Here, the residual sugar is completely fermented in the bottle, resulting in a fine mousseux. They are unfiltered and cloudy, but extremely fresh. They are incredibly enjoyable and extremely versatile.

Brilliant straw yellow. On the nose, an almost dramatic symphony of aromas of flint, dried flowers, tropical fruits and a subtle hint of lime. On the palate, it is taut, with good texture and structure, yet delicately spicy, lively and with a wonderfully pronounced salty tension. As it develops, it is very well-balanced, with a well-nuanced blend of fruit and acidity and a very refreshing clarity. SUPERIORE.DE

The MONSTER WINES from Tenuta di Tagignano are more than just a crazy experiment. They stand for pop, punk and freak. It is an exciting project of vinophile free spirits who combine serious and traditional winemaking with something new. The wines are produced according to the Metodo Ancestrale: Here, the residual sugar is completely fermented in the bottle, resulting in a fine mousseux. They are unfiltered and cloudy, but extremely fresh. They are incredibly enjoyable and extremely versatile.

"When We Dance" – sting's 1994 ballad is about a love that makes angels hide their wings. The eponymous Chianti is more down-to-earth, but no less seductive: a classic triad of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino, as Tuscany has known it for centuries. The biodynamically farmed grapes are harvested by hand and matured in stainless steel for six months – no wood, no distractions, just pure varietal expression.

Fuori Misura – beyond all measure. The name is no mere flourish. It is a description. This Rosato is not made in the same way as other rosés. It is not a by-product, nor the result of a separate decision. It is a saignée – a bleeding – from the very same fermentation vats in which the Chianti Classico, the Riserva Le Baròncole and the Percarlo are being produced at the same time. The must is drawn off 12 to 24 hours after crushing. To this are added 10% freshly pressed grapes, which macerate for up to 12 days. Sangiovese, Canaiolo – the very soul of the estate, seen in a different light.

The Lageder winery from Magrè in southern South Tyrol has been one of the region's defining forces for six generations – and since 2024, all the cultivated areas, including around 60 partner winegrowers, have been fully certified biodynamic or organic. Not just lip service, but a conviction that is put into practice. The Pinot Grigio comes from selected vineyards between Magrè and Salorno, at an altitude of 230 to 420 metres – stony, sandy soils with a high lime content, alpine temperature fluctuations and plenty of light. The vinification is based on a small proportion of maceration, which gives the variety texture and aromatic depth; the rest matures for four months on the lees in steel tanks.

Lageder's Lagrein Rosé is a finely characterised expression of South Tyrolean origin: lively, mineral and carried by quiet precision. The grapes come from vineyards around Margreid and Salurn, where the Lagrein finds ideal conditions for aromatic depth and cool freshness on warm, gravel-rich soils.

Kretzer – this is what the rosé from Lagrein has been called in South Tyrol for centuries. The name sounds more determined than Rosato, and it is: Lagrein is one of the most independent grape varieties in the country, almost exclusively at home in South Tyrol, with an aroma that no other rosé grape displays in the same way. Wild berries, violets, a hint of dark spice – and the freshness that comes from vinification as a rosé. Martin Foradori aptly describes this wine as a character type between two worlds: "the freshness and fragrance of a white wine, the fruity juiciness and delicate spiciness of a red that can be drunk young".

A vibrant and by no means run-of-the-mill expression of Piedmont: this Dolcetto comes from vineyards on calcareous soils around Vergne, from vines between 25 and 60 years old. The grapes were harvested by hand from late September through to the start of autumn, followed by a relatively long alcoholic maceration with careful temperature control. The wine was aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks.

Delicate straw yellow colour with a silvery shimmer – this Pinot Grigio reflects the elegance of the Colli Orientali in a particularly accessible way. The vines grow on calcareous hillside soils around Cividale, where warm days and cool nights refine the flavour of the grapes. The nose has a clear aroma of white melon, pear, green apple and a hint of acacia blossom. Juicy on the palate, with fresh acidity and a subtle spiciness that testifies to the terroir. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the purity and produces a cheerful, Mediterranean white wine that combines origin and style in charming harmony. A Pinot Grigio that bears the signature of the Sirch family as well as the purism of the region. SUPERIORE.DE

No wood, no malolactic fermentation, no detours: with this Sauvignon, the Tramin Winery focuses on the fruit and little else. The vines are planted from 350 metres upwards on calcareous clay with gravel, where warm days alternate with cool mountain nights. The harvest are harvest by hand and pressed immediately; the must ferments at 19 degrees in stainless steel and matures there in small tanks.

Pinot Grigio is Italy's best-selling white wine variety – and at the same time one of the most misunderstood. What becomes a pale all-purpose weapon on an industrial scale shows a completely different face in South Tyrol. The grapes for Hofstätter's version come from Mazzon and Egna in the Adige Valley, where the soils are skeleton-rich and well-drained and the vine builds up its aromas with a concentration that gives the wine real substance.

Lagrein is the quintessential red wine of South Tyrol. This grape variety is grown in any significant quantity almost nowhere else in the world – it is so intrinsically linked to this region that its name still evokes the Adige Valley to this day. Kellerei Tramin sources its Lagrein from Auer, the warmest part of the growing region, where the Ora breezes from Lake Garda sweep through the valley every day and the vines reach full maturity in a climate that Lagrein clearly thrives in. The winery was founded in 1898 by the parish priest of Termeno. Since then, it has remained true to its commitment to getting the very best out of every vineyard – from the highest Gewürztraminer plots to the warm Lagrein vineyards on the valley floor in Auer.

A Vermentino that could hardly be more Gallurese: On the granite-rich soils of the northern hills of Sardinia, moulded by wind, light and salty sea air, Elibaria matures into a white wine that makes its origins tangible in the glass. The wine is matured puristically in stainless steel tanks and for several months on the fine lees – without wood, without fining, but with maximum precision.

Moscato Giallo is one of the most fragrant grape varieties in South Tyrol – and one of the most vulnerable. In the wrong hands it becomes sugary sweet and arbitrary, in the right hands it shows something rare: aromatic depth with complete dryness. Nals Margreid cultivates it in the southernmost part of its vineyard area, in Margreid – the warmest, most Mediterranean tip between Nals and Lake Garda. The vineyards lie at an altitude of 220 to 350 metres, exposed to the south-southeast, on white, broodinglimestone gravel soil with a high humus content. The climate bears the fingerprint of the Ora, the warm afternoon wind that blows daily from Lake Garda over the slopes, extending the growing season and shaping the flavour of the grapes. Hand-picked, three weeks of fermentation in steel, five months of ageing on the fine lees.

Branu means "spring" and is a fresh greeting from Gallura: the name alludes to new beginnings and lightness and it is the programme. 100% Vermentino, grown on the granite terraces around Arzachena, captures spring in a glass – primarily in flavour and style, but never too playful. The vineyards are located close to the coast, with granite substrates, sparse scrubland and a constant sea breeze – a terroir that combines minerality and freshness as it matures.

This rosé comes to life in the glass with a delicate salmon-pink hue, tinged with warm coral glints. Made from Cannonau and Nieddera grapes, it is produced in the vineyards of the Sinis Peninsula and the Terre d'Ossidiana – regions characterised by volcanic soils and salty coastal breezes. The grapes undergo maceration for just a few hours, followed by controlled fermentation at a low temperature. Ageing takes place partly in stainless steel and partly in barriques – a combination that maintains an impressive balance between freshness and structure. The nose captivates with a floral blend of rose petals, raspberries and citrus notes, underpinned by subtle herbal spice and a mineral undertone reminiscent of sea air. On the palate, it is crisply citrusy and briny – the fruit remains present without any sweetness, the acidity is skilfully managed, and the finish is long, elegant and tinged with a hint of pink grapefruit. SUPERIORE.DE

In the Arbëresh dialect of Basilicata – the language that the Albanian immigrants of the 15th century brought with them to the south of Italy – verha simply means: the wine. Elena Fucci is best known for her Titolo, one of the finest Aglianico del Vulture wines in the world. The Contrada Catavatta is right next door – the same volcanic soils of tuff, ash and pumice, the same altitude at the foot of Monte Vulture, the same manual labour. The vines here, however, were threatened with decay. Elena Fucci saved them: Not with great ambitions, but with the simple conviction that good soil should not waste good wine. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, spontaneous fermentation, steel, no touch of wood. A white wine that tells the story of the Vulture terroir in a language that is rarely heard there: fresh, direct, mineral.

Pale straw yellow with a greenish tinge – a Friulano with a classic appearance and modern clarity. On the nose, white flowers, Williams pear, a hint of yellow apple and a delicate almond note – typical of the indigenous grape variety. Dry, soft and balanced on the palate with fine fruit, subtle herbal spice and a pleasant almondy aftertaste. The ageing in stainless steel brings out the varietal typicity particularly clearly and leaves room for the fresh, accessible nature of this wine. An honest, very successful Friulano that combines drinking pleasure and origin in a charming and characterful way. SUPERIORE.DE