Wine

In 1993, on the 50th anniversary of the Five Roses, Leone de Castris decided that an anniversary deserved a worthy wine. The Anniversario was born – and has been making history ever since. The Tre Bicchieri of the Gambero Rosso several times, as if it were routine. 80% Negroamaro, 20% Malvasia Nera di Lecce, on clayey-silty soils in Salice Salentino. Hand-picked at the beginning of September, gentle destemming, cold maceration at 7–10°C, gentle must extraction without pressing pressure, controlled fermentation in steel. Simple, precise, without compromise.

The great white heron spends the winter in the Riserva dello Stagnone near Marsala, the tranquil nature reserve of lagoon, salt pans and wide open skies where the vineyards of Cantine Rallo are rooted. The white colour of the bottle label is reminiscent of the Marsala salt pans, the yellow of the Sicilian sun. The bird gave the wine its name. 100% Grillo, the autochthonous grape variety of western Sicily, traditionally grown in the Alberello marsalese – the bushy training system that gives the vines shade and balance in the summer heat. South-facing, at an altitude of 50 metres, loamy-sandy soil near the coast. Hand-picked in September, gentle pressing, fermentation in steel at 15 to 16 °C, no malolactic fermentation, 6 months in steel, short bottle ageing.

Frappato is Sicily's best-kept secret. It is only grown on a few dozen hectares of the entire island – and hardly anywhere as convincingly as in the red sands of Vittoria. Light, well-aerated soils, with a layer of tufa underneath that regulates the water. Sea breeze, southern sun. Planeta cultivates it in the Mogli vineyard at 70 metres, organically, with 4,500 plants per hectare. Seven days of maceration, gentle pressing, ageing in steel.

The vines are planted where the Piedmont slopes gently at Canelli and the Barbera grape can develop its depth. The name is reminiscent of Cesare Pavese, the great son of these hills – and his most famous work "La Luna e i Falò". Like the novel, this wine also carries a quiet melancholy, paired with expression, maturity and identity. Matured in barriques and large casks for around a year, this is a Barbera full of character and at the same time modern.

Garofoli has been known for decades for its excellent sparkling wines. Here comes the new Rosé Frizzante made from 100% Montepulciano using the classic pet-nat method (Metodo Ancestrale), which is harvested in the last half of August and whose carbon dioxide is created almost unplanned by the almost complete fermentation of the sugar in the bottle. Bright salmon pink, floral, red berry notes, beautiful freshness, delicate mousseux and a fine yeast note on the final. Unfiltered. SUPERIORE.DE

Ribelle – rebel. At La Monacesca, where Verdicchio traditionally matures for a long time, this wine is a deliberate break with the rules: harvested in its youth, vinified for freshness, released before time takes the corners off it. Only stainless steel, no rush, but also no waiting for a certain patina. The result is crisp, lively, light-hearted – a Verdicchio for the moment. Green apple, citrus, a hint of almond on the finish. Not a wine for the cellar, but for the summer: aperitivo, crudo, seafood. The monks who settled here a thousand years ago probably didn't know such lightness. But they would certainly have liked it. SUPERIORE.DE

Andrian's Burgundian classic finds its southern Alpine interpretation between 300 and 500 metres on calcareous clay-dolomite soils. These lower-lying sites offer the Pinot Bianco optimal ripening conditions: early morning sunshine with sufficient coolness for the thin-skinned, pressure-sensitive berries. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and six months of refinement on the fine lees give Finado its characteristic texture and complexity.

Pale straw yellow with greenish reflections, clear and brilliant in the glass. Seductive on the nose with notes of white peach, citrus zest, lime blossom and a hint of almond. Fresh and juicy on the palate, carried by lively, finely balanced acidity and a delicate, creamy texture. The clay-rich soils lend the wine a fine salty trace that harmoniously complements the fruity core. Long, mineral finish with plenty of drinkability. A Lugana that effortlessly combines crisp freshness, elegance and regional authenticity. SUPERIORE.DE

Mamaioa (Sardinian for "ladybird") is not just a label for Contini, but a symbol of biodiversity and a sensitive understanding of wine. This Vermentino shows how modern and close to nature Sardinia's white wine culture can be, while remaining clear, fresh and convincing. Mamaioa comes from organically cultivated vineyards around Cabras – not far from the salty breeze of the Tyrrhenian Sea and on sandy soils with ancient marine sediment. The grapes are harvested early in the morning and matured exclusively in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and varietal profile.

An Aglianico with character and origin: "Cappellaccio" comes from calcareous soils at an altitude of around 300 metres, near the Castello di Federico II - the namesake of the DOC. The 2018 vintage was balanced and allowed for a late, selective harvest. Ageing in barriques and large wooden barrels for 12 months gives the wine structure and maturity. Dense ruby colour with a garnet-red rim in the glass. Black cherry, dried plum, liquorice, balsamic herbs and a hint of tobacco on the nose. Concentrated on the palate, with pithy tannins, dark spice and mineral freshness. A powerful yet surprisingly precise Aglianico from the chalky slopes of northern Murgia - a masculine wine with depth and potential.

Barbera with origin and attitude: La Villa has been Olim Bauda's favourite wine for decades – not because it is particularly loud, but because it seems so natural. No barrique, no spectacle, but plenty of character. The secret lies in the balance: fruit and freshness, elegance and energy – everything is there, nothing imposes itself. Bright ruby in the glass with a youthful violet colour. The bouquet plays on the fresh side: sour cherry, raspberry, dried herbs, a hint of violet and a delicate mineral note. On the palate, the typical tension of Asti-Barbera – juicy, clearly contoured, with supple tannins and fine length. A wonderfully authentic wine that breathes the soul of Piedmont – spontaneous, lively, unaffected. If you want to understand the essence of this grape variety, this is the perfect wine for every day. SUPERIORE.DE

Plumbago is the name of the wild plant with violet flowers that grows in the woods surrounding the Baglio and the vineyards of Ulmo, the Planeta family’s ancestral estate in Menfi. Its name says it all: in Latin, ‘plumbago’ means ‘ever-blue’ – the colour of its flowers, dark and velvety like the wine to which it lends its name. The vines are planted on old plots around Lago Arancio – in the Belice Valley, whose proximity gives the vineyard a more balanced microclimate: milder temperatures, more humidity at night, and a ripening process that brings out the soft, fruity character of the Nero d’Avola rather than its power. Hand-harvested, stainless steel, 10 months in French oak barrels – measured and precise.

Caricagiola is a red grape variety that is mainly cultivated in Sardinia and Corsica. It is particularly widespread in the Sardinian region of Gallura, where it thrives in the region's unique climate and soil conditions. However, its close resemblance to the black Vermentino Nero grape suggests that it could also originate from Liguria. Another theory about its origin links it to the southern Portuguese grape variety Mourvèdre Nero or Bonvendro, which was once considered a special biotype of the Mourvèdre common in southern France and Spain.

Svelato means unveiled – the veil pulled away. The name of the most famous Falanghina from the Sannio resonates with the legend: Guardia Sanframondi, the "bewitched land" on the Matese mountains, home of the witches of Benevento and, since 1898, of the Iacobucci family. Filomena and Carlo rebuilt the business in 2004 – and the Svelato quickly became an ambassador. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressing, ageing in steel on the fine lees.

A Ribolla Gialla that knows exactly what it wants: freshness, tension and the expression of one of Friuli's most traditional white wine terroirs. Pale straw yellow in the glass with greenish reflections. A cool, clear aroma of lemon peel, white flowers, green apple and a hint of lime honey. No excess, but controlled precision. The acidity is lively, the texture slightly creamy, the finish characterised by citrus, fine herbal notes and an almost salty touch. A very characterful representative of its kind. SUPERIORE.DE

Between Bolgheri and Scansano, on the hills of Gavorrano in the central Maremma, two worlds came together: Paolo Panerai from Castellare di Castellina and Baron Eric de Rothschild from Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite. The first Italian-French joint venture in viticulture came into being – and with it, on the highest hill of the estate, a cellar designed by Renzo Piano. The only one of its kind. Up to 2,000 barriques rest beneath it, hewn 50 metres deep into the rock. On the hill: Etruscan artefacts that prove that wine has been made here for 3,000 years.

Pure Merlot from the gentle slopes around the village of Togliano – powerful, but not heavy, and deliberately vinified without ageing in wood. The ageing in stainless steel and glass fermentation tanks allows the grape variety to appear with undisguised clarity: dark fruit, animating freshness and finely structured tannins. Rich ruby red in the glass with violet reflections. The aroma is intense and typical of the variety: black cherry, plum, some herbal spice and a hint of violet. Juicy on the palate, with a smooth flow, lively fruit and a noticeable but well-integrated structure. A balanced and straightforward Merlot with a regional profile. SUPERIORE.DE

Delicate straw yellow colour with greenish reflections. This classic and extremely harmonious Friulano is youthfully fresh and at the same time full of character. The bouquet is finely nuanced with aromas of yellow pear, ripe citrus fruit, almond blossom and a hint of hay. The palate is dry, balanced and textured, with ripe fruit, well-integrated acidity and the slightly tart almond note typical of the variety on the finish. An authentic representative of the grape variety that shows how harmoniously tradition and modern drinking flow go together. SUPERIORE.DE

Volpe Pasini's Chardonnay has a clear focus: straightforward, juicy, completely focussed on freshness and varietal typicity. The nose is characterised by notes of green banana, white peach, citrus zest and a hint of white flowers – not a loud appearance, but a subtle interplay of nuances. On the palate, the wine is taut and animating, with a subtle creaminess, lively acidity and a pleasantly dry finish. No wood, no exaggeration, but a Chardonnay that favours lightness and elegance and is therefore pleasantly out of the ordinary. International format meets regional signature. SUPERIORE.DE

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

A Cabernet with a Friulian signature: This elegant red wine is made from a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc and matured entirely in stainless steel tanks – without any wood. It thus retains clear fruit, freshness and varietal typicity in the highest purity. The 2024 vintage developed under typical Colli Orientali conditions: warm days, cool nights and well-ventilated slopes ensured clean, expressive grapes. An intense ruby red colour in the glass. The nose opens with aromas of cassis, blackberry, a hint of green pepper and Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, this Cabernet is structured, with precise fruit, fine-grained tannins and lively acidity. An authentic representative of the grape variety that combines fresh clarity and strength of character. SUPERIORE.DE