Wine Enthusiast

Illuminati's Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riparosso has a sweet aroma of violets and lavender, followed by crushed blackberries and chalk dust. It coats the palate with soft textures and ripe wild berries, which are contrasted by tart citrus fruits towards the finish. It finishes with a perfumed character and admirable length, leaving behind a layer of dusty tannins that tug at the cheeks. Very Italian – very well made. SUPERIORE.DE

Some of the Alanera grapes are air-dried before fermentation using the appassimento method to promote the concentration of flavours. Dark ruby red in colour. On the nose, the aroma of dried and fresh cherries, with a hint of coffee and sweet tobacco. The palate is berry-fresh with a lovely acid wire and fine tannins. A full, round wine for many occasions. SUPERIORE.DE

The small piece of vine wood around the neck of the bottle is more than just a nice touch – it is Zaccagnini's trademark and a symbol of a philosophy: nothing from the vineyard is wasted; even the prunings find a use. Since 1978, the Zaccagnini family has been working in Bolognano, deep in the mountainous hinterland of the province of Pescara, where the vineyards lie as if in an amphitheatre, sheltered by snow-capped mountains. Here, where fresh winds blow through a mountain pass every day, the Montepulciano grape thrives in ideal conditions. Following a gentle hand-harvest and temperature-controlled maceration, the wine matures for six months in Slavonian oak barrels before spending a further three months in the bottle to achieve its final harmony.

Tedeschi's Valpolicella Lucchine is a lively, fruity red wine without the use of wood. It impresses with juicy cherry and berry fruit, fine acidity and flavours of violets, herbs and spices. Light, fresh and elegant - a classic full of character with great drinking pleasure. SUPERIORE.DE

Ceregio is designed as an early ready-to-drink wine due to its quicker and lighter vinification. Intense ruby red colour. Red fruits in the glass, especially cherry and pomegranate. Good correspondence with the nose on the palate, juicy and vinous, with good tannin density and reasonable length. A "wine for every day" with refinement and an enviable balance, it presents its beautiful concentration and fruitiness without frills. SUPERIORE.DE

This traditional cuvée is a delight even in its youth. Made from exceptional grapes, it reveals the ripe fruit and richness of the three classic vineyards. A deep ruby-garnet colour with violet highlights. A full bouquet of dusty violets and roses, evolving into spiced confectionery and crushed cherries. On the palate, fresh cherries, mixed herbs and undergrowth emerge – all well-balanced – lending the wine a lightness and, at the same time, a complexity that keeps you coming back for more. SUPERIORE.DE

Steep slopes, barren limestone, untamed nature – the Monti Garbi above Mezzane di Sotto are not pleasing wine country. When the Castagnedi brothers opened up these rugged heights in 1989, people in eastern Valpolicella were still focussing on quantity. They focussed on character. The grapes are harvested by hand and gently pressed. In October, the young wine undergoes its second birth: re-fermentation on the pomace of the estate's own Amarone – ripasso in the original sense. Malolactic fermentation and ageing in Liters tonneaux lend depth without heaviness. Ruby red in colour, juicy and enveloping, infused with a spicy freshness that owes its signature to the chalky white skeletal soils. Great value! SUPERIORE.DE

Borrigiano – named after the inhabitants of the medieval village of Il Borro – marks a special chapter in the history of the Ferragamo family. As the estate's first wine to bear the prestigious Valdarno di Sopra DOC designation, it embodies the tradition of an appellation that was recognised as one of the first four Tuscan wine regions as early as 1716 by Cosimo III de' Medici. Grown in organically farmed vineyards at altitudes of between 300 and 500 metres in the Valdarno Valley, this elegant cuvée is made from 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The unique soil composition – characterised by sandstone, clay and fossilised marine deposits from a prehistoric lake – lends the wine its characteristic minerality. Ten months' ageing in large wooden casks preserve the vibrant fruit and create a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation.

Light red bitter liqueur made from various herbs and fruits, such as sweet oranges, bitter oranges, rhubarb, marjoram and thyme. Aromatic and balanced. For mixing with dry frizzante, water, freshly squeezed orange juice and as an ingredient in countless cocktails that want to be flavoured with a bitter note. SUPERIORE.DE

Brilliant ruby red colour. Intense bouquet of small red berries, cherries and a violet-spice component. Warm and full flavours of forest fruits and cherries on the palate, flanked by a solid tannin structure. The finish is soft and long, medium-bodied and very elegant. SUPERIORE.DE

Only one wine at a time bears the estate's name – and there is a reason for this. The Montecucco Rosso Riserva is the centrepiece of the estate's production: the wine that most directly expresses the estate's philosophy. Italian passion meets Swiss precision – that is how the Tipa Bertarelli family themselves describe their approach. In the glass, it impresses anew every year. 80% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon – grapes from vineyards on sandstone, marl and clay at an altitude of 300 metres. Spontaneous fermentation on natural yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, followed by 16 months' ageing: the Sangiovese in 40-hectolitre oak barrels, the Ciliegiolo and Cabernet inLiters French oakLiters.

Harmonious, velvety Pinot Noir from vineyards at an altitude of around 450 metres. These hills with special conglomerate soils of clay and limestone and the very suitable microclimate form the ideal conditions for a clear Pinot Nero full of character. Bright ruby to garnet red in colour. Fine, ripe aroma of dark berries and sour cherry. Harmonious and soft on the palate with a good balance of fruit and body. SUPERIORE.DE

Federico II di Svevia, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Sicily, had a special affection for the hills around Monte Vulture. Here, in Basilicata, he had castles built that still stand today. And he loved the wines of the Vulture – those deep, mineral reds that came from the lava soils of the extinct volcano. The Terre degli Svevi estate, founded in 1998, honours his legacy with the name of its flagship wine: Re Manfredi – king Manfred, his son, the fearless warrior. 100% Aglianico, grown at 420 metres in Venosa, on volcanic soil rich in calcium, nitrogen and tuff – the mineral foundation on which the character of this wine is built. A continental climate with harsh winters, hot summers and pronounced temperature fluctuations.

"Sogni al Campo" – dreams in the field. A name that reveals what drives this co-operative: 180 Piedmontese winegrowers who work together to cultivate around 300 hectares in the best vineyards in the region and make wine in the ultra-modern winery in Barolo. What unites them is the belief that co-operation does not have to mean compromise, but concentration on the essentials. This Langhe Nebbiolo shows how cleverly Piedmont handles its grape varieties: 85 per cent Nebbiolo provides structure and those typical aromas of cherry, violet and a hint of tar. But the 15 per cent Barbera is the secret – they bring juiciness and a lively acidity that makes the Nebbiolo more accessible in its youth without taking away its soul. After traditional fermentation, the wine matures for twelve months in barriques, which give it a subtle spiciness and finely polished tannins.

In 2010, Marco Cirese, grandson of Noelia Ricci, started a project within Tenuta Pandolfa: nine hectares of the best plots, a radical focus on Sangiovese, back to the origins. The label is adorned with a wasp – the insect that lives in the vineyard like no other. The vines are planted at an altitude of 250 to 300 metres, on ochre-coloured clay soils with limestone marl, in 2002. Spontaneous fermentation, 18 days of maceration, then six months in stainless steel – without clarification, without filtration. Purism as a principle.

At dawn, a rosy glow lies over the Sangiovese vineyards to the east of the estate, which gave this wine its name. Il Borro has been officially certified organic since 2015, and the Rosato comes from these vineyards. The early-ripening grapes are harvested by hand into 10-kilo crates; the must remains on the skins for just one hour, fermentation takes place in stainless steel at 15 to 17 degrees, after which the wine rests in the tank for two months. The year 2025 begins mild and dry; the summer turns hot, but rain in September and October restores the water balance.

Expressive Vermentino from naturally farmed vineyards in Castagneto Carducci. The 2024 vintage featured mild weather with sunny days and cool nights – an ideal profile for freshness and aromatic clarity. The wine fermented in stainless steel at a low temperature and then matured for several months on the fine lees to optimise the fruit and structure.

Where the salty breezes of the Tyrrhenian Sea meet the last foothills of the Colline Metallifere, the Mediterranean character of this exceptional red wine unfolds in all its splendour. The name Mediterra says it all: it embodies the flavours of the Tuscan maquis and that enticing saltiness that only wines from the immediate vicinity of the sea are capable of developing.

The little cherry. The name reveals its personality: this autochthonous Maremma variety openly bears its flavour in its name, and it means business. Ciliegiolo was at home in Maremma for a long time, but then fell out of fashion because Cabernet and Sangiovese virtually monopolised the region's attention. Now it is returning – and Belguardo is one of the first houses to take it seriously again. The vineyards are situated at 100 metres, west-facing, on sandy Arenaria soils with a fine pebble content. The western exposure gives the wine a freshness and lightness that cannot be taken for granted in the Maremma. Francesco Mazzei describes it as "exceptionally lively and fresh – and surprisingly deep at the same time."

On Mount Etna, the morning light first strikes the eastern flank, and in Milo the vines grow directly towards it. The name "Erse" is reminiscent of the Greek goddess of dew; the estate associates it with the sunrise. Silvia Maestrelli, who sadly passed away far too young, founded Tenuta di Fessina in 2007 in northern Rovittello, yet this white wine comes from the east. On Mount Etna, "Superiore" is not a stage of maturation, but a designation of origin: The appellation reserves this designation for white wines made from grapes grown in the small municipality of Milo, with at least 80% Carricante. Old vines grow there on sandy lava soil mixed with pumice and ash. Fermentation takes place under temperature control in stainless-steel tanks, after which the wine is left to rest in the bottle.