Wine

Some vineyards have names that you never forget. The Hexenbichl – or Hexenbühel, as the older people around Tramin call it – lies on the southern slopes of the village, between 300 and 450 metres, on calcareous clay and gravel. Vernatsch has thrived here for generations; the vines for this wine are between 60 and 100 years old. They have not been replaced because they knew that no young vine could match the vigour of these roots. Fermented in steel tanks, matured in large oak barrels – without pressure, without haste. Vernatsch, also known as Schiava in South Tyrol, needs this. It is not a grape variety for feats of strength, but for precision and patience.

Felsina's entry-level wine made from 100% Sangiovese from the border between Chianti Classico and the Colli Senesi. The vineyard, acquired by Domenico Poggiali in 1966, is located in Castelnuovo Berardenga on diverse soils of sandstone, marl and limestone. After temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, the wine matures for twelve months in medium-sized Slovenian oak barrels. Ruby red in colour with violet hues in the glass. Fruity aromas of wild berries and berry bush on the nose, complemented by pleasant spicy notes. Round and supple on the palate with well-structured tannins and a delicate final of red fruit and vanilla. A classic Chianti from the Colli Senesi, perfect for everyday enjoyment with meat dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Pale straw yellow with greenish reflections – the 2024 already shows its youthful vitality in the glass. Yellow citrus fruit, crisp green apple, a hint of mint and fine floral notes on the nose. The vintage was characterised by a cool spring and moderately warm summer, which gives the wine freshness and structure. Taut and lively on the palate, with precise acidity, salty minerality and a straightforward final. The ageing in stainless steel preserves the clear style of the house. A Vermentino with profile and an energetic character – ideal for summer enjoyment. SUPERIORE.DE

An authentic Aglianico that is deeply rooted in the cool hills of Irpinia – the classic core region of Campania that gives the grape variety its unmistakable profile. The vintage was characterised by balanced ripeness and cooler nights at harvest time, which gives the wine structure and freshness. Dark ruby red in the glass with a garnet-red rim. Red plum, sour cherry, violets and a hint of tar and graphite on the nose. Dry on the palate, with pithy tannins, ripe fruit and balsamic depth. A delicate herbal flavour and mineral notes accompany the long finish. Classic, robust and yet accessible – a convincing representative of its origin with honest character. SUPERIORE.DE

Autochthonous power from the heart of South Tyrol – lagrein embodies the soul of the Bolzano valley floor like no other grape variety. In Gries and the surrounding slopes, the vines thrive on warm, sandy alluvial soils, where extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night create the complexity that characterises this classic. Intense ruby red colour with violet reflections. Ripe cherries and blackberries on the nose, framed by floral notes of violets and lilacs, while the typical cocoa flavour reveals its origins. The palate reveals the full structure of the grape variety: intense and persistent, with well-integrated tannins and that elegant spiciness that makes Lagrein unmistakable. An authentic ambassador of South Tyrolean wine culture. SUPERIORE.DE

Tramonto d'Estate Rosato comes from south-east facing limestone slopes near Decugnano at 250 metres above sea level, where cool nights and clay-limestone soils provide ideal conditions. The Grenache grapes are harvested by hand in small crates. After gentle whole-cluster pressing and static clarification for 24 hours, temperature-controlled fermentation takes place at 16 °C. The wine then matures for four months. The wine then matures for four months on the fine lees.

On the well-aerated limestone-porphyry soils between 260 and 380 metres, the world's most widespread white grape variety thrives to southern Alpine perfection. These medium altitudes around Andriano provide the ideal microclimate for Chardonnay: Mediterranean warmth with night-time cooling for optimum flavour development. The grapes are hand-selected, fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel and matured on the fine lees for six months, giving Somereto its characteristic creaminess and texture.

Intense and pure fruit bouquet. Lively on the palate with beautiful blackberry components and hints of the origin of clay and limestone soils. Well-knit tannins guide this refined and full-bodied cuvée into a thoroughly respectable finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Produced using the appassimento or Amarone method, this Valpolicella has a rich ruby-violet colour. The nose has compact notes of ripe cherries, blackberries, some cloves, elderberries and liquorice, with subtle notes of chocolate in the background. Silky texture with an abundance of sweet fruit, balanced by salty minerals and savoury spices. A hint of sour tangerine and citrus adds further depth. The finish is long, colourful and structured, with a hint of sweet tannins providing grip. Rich and powerful with a lot of melting on the palate, very classic! SUPERIORE.DE

Above Bolzano, where old gravel paths lead through sun-drenched vineyards, lies the legendary Huck am Bach farm, which gives its name to one of the most authentic red wines in South Tyrol. Between 250 and 500 metres above sea level, the Vernatsch and Lagrein vines that have been at the heart of the St. Magdalener tradition for generations thrive here on mineral-rich gravel soils. The harvest harvest produces grapes that mature in large oak barrels into a wine of enchanting elegance.

Delicate salmon pink colour with a copper shimmer. A fine interplay of redcurrants, raspberries, delicate grapefruit and a floral nuance of rosehip blossom on the nose. Lively and clear on the palate, carried by fresh, well-integrated acidity and a subtle spiciness. The medium body is supple, the fruit always remains elegant and underpinned by mineral accents. The final is delicately tart, with hints of pink grapefruit and a hint of almond skin. A charming Chiaretto with profile and sophistication – perfect as an aperitif or with light Mediterranean dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

The name reveals the secret: in Taglio del Tralcio, the shoot is cut just before the harvest so that the grapes wilt slightly on the vine – a technique reminiscent of Amarone, but used more carefully here. The Aglianico vines grow at an altitude of around 500 metres on volcanic soils at the foot of Monte Vulture. Controlled dehydration concentrates sugar and flavours without sacrificing freshness. After fermentation, the wine matures for six months in oak wood.

Tenuta Il Palagio is located in the hills south of Florence, where Sting and Trudie Styler have been cultivating a 350-hectare estate dating back to the 16th century biodynamically since 1997. The Vermentino comes from eleven hectares of vineyards on the calcareous soils of the Chianti Colli Fiorentini – vinified under the aegis of Riccardo Cotarella. The grapes are harvested by hand at the end of September and fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures to preserve freshness and primary fruit.

Delicate salmon pink with a copper shimmer in the glass - a rosato that already radiates elegance visually. Light berries, white flowers, a hint of pink grapefruit and fine herbal notes on the nose. On the palate, the 2024 impresses with a smooth texture, well-integrated acidity and a fine minerality. The vintage brought balanced fruit and remarkable freshness, which is reflected in harmonious balance and subtle depth. Not a loud rosé, but a stylish, Mediterranean wine with fine pressure and cool finesse - ideal with antipasti, fish or simply on its own. SUPERIORE.DE

Lambrusco has an image problem. Not because it is bad – but because the wrong version of it has travelled the world for decades: sweet, arbitrary, free with pizza. However, anyone who knows that Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC is one of the most fascinating red wine appellations in Italy – aromatic, light-footed, with an acidity structure that makes Bordeaux look old –who opens this bottle with completely different expectations. 100% Lambrusco di Sorbara from the Vigneto Sozzigalli, 100 hectares of its own vineyards, carefully selected. Short maceration, slow pinch de mousse in a closed fermentation tank using the Charmat method. No compromise at the wrong end.

The French would call it Cru. Chiarli simply writes the name of the vineyard on the label: Tenuta Generale Cialdini, around 13 hectares in the pre-alpine hills of Castelvetro, south of Modena. Clayey soils that give Grasparossa what it needs: substance, colour and tannin. This is where the Chiarli family has been producing what they consider to be the purest expression of this grape variety for generations. Anyone who knows and loves Sorbara should be prepared for something. Because the Grasparossa is the exact opposite: dark, full-bodied, firm tannins, with fruit that is more reminiscent of blackberries and wild berries than strawberries. 36 hours of maceration at a cool temperature, slow pinch de mousse, bottling only after appropriate maturity.

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

Massolino's Moscato is a lot of fun, and not just if you drink it in summer. Bright straw yellow in colour. A fresh bouquet of jasmine, honey, mint, wild sage and chalk. The wine's seductive sweetness flows gently over the palate, and a delicious acid wire provides excitement and agility. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for this smooth red wine thrive on loamy, calcareous soils with gravelly subsoil in the hills around Tramin. The extreme interplay of sunny Mediterranean days and cool downslope winds from the surrounding mountains ensures an intense aroma. After maceration at a controlled temperature, the wine matures in large wooden barrels. The colour in the glass is a deep ruby red. The nose exudes aromas of wild cherry and redcurrant, accompanied by delicate spice and a hint of plum. The palate is full-bodied and soft with a velvety texture, supple tannins and a tart, fruity length. A Merlot that elegantly translates the Burgundian tradition to the South Tyrolean south – with hearty meat dishes, roasts or savoury cheeses. SUPERIORE.DE

The Riserva version of the famous "Tralcetto" is a modern expression of Montepulciano from Abruzzo - more powerful, denser, but always clear in its style. The 2021 vintage was selectively harvested by hand and aged for 9 months in large wooden barrels after traditional mash fermentation, which gives the wine structure and depth without masking the fruit.

"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.

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 under the prestigious Valdarno di Sopra DOC, it combines the tradition of an appellation that was recognised as one of the first four Tuscan wine regions by Cosimo III de' Medici back in 1716. This elegant cuvée of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from organically cultivated vineyards between 300 and 500 metres above sea level in the Valdarno Valley. The unique soil composition – characterised by sandstone, clay and fossilised marine deposits from a prehistoric lake – gives the wine its characteristic minerality. Ten months of ageing in large wooden barrels preserves the lively fruit and creates a harmonious interplay between tradition and innovation.