Wine

This great Barbera d'Alba was actually created to harmonise everyday life and expression – and it is also a tribute to Giovanni's great-grand aunt – nuanced, clear and warm-hearted. In the glass, it shines in an intense ruby red colour. The nose is caressed by ripe sour cherry, raspberry and a delicate scent of violets, complemented by a hint of orange peel, roasted hazelnut and sweet spice notes – a scented motorway into the seductive world of the Barbera grape. A juicy, lively fruit structure unfolds on the palate, supported by fresh, harmonious acidity and softly integrated tannins. The ageing in stainless steel emphasises freshness and varietal purity. The finish is clear, with a fine citrus note and floral elegance. A high-quality everyday wine with character and finesse from a great house. SUPERIORE.DE

Strong yellow colour, elegant and fragrant bouquet of exotic fruits, peach, lemon peel, hazelnut and chalk. Medium to full-bodied with layers of ripe fruit and bright, penetrating acidity. Polished, long and delicate finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Groppello gentile is a grape with tightly packed berries, small seeds and a very thin and fragile skin. It is certainly the most famous red wine grape on the Riviera del Garda and was already cultivated by the Romans in the Valtènesi.

A vintage South Tyrolean sparkling wine of elegant lightness. The Chardonnay grapes grow at an altitude of 450 metres around Buchholz in the South Tyrolean lowlands, where ideal sunshine and perfect aeration guarantee an excellent acid-sugar ratio. After pressing and destemming, fermentation takes place with pure yeasts at a controlled temperature of 19°C in stainless steel tanks. The second fermentation takes place according to the Metodo Charmat in pressurised tanks, where the wine matures on the lees for six to nine months at 14°C, developing aroma and body. After separation from the yeast and cooling, the wine is left to mature in the bottle for a further three months.

A white wine with its own signature: Valcanzjria combines Carricante – the noble grape variety of Etna – with the Mediterranean charm of Chardonnay and Albanello. The grapes grow in Val Canzeria near Chiaramonte Gulfi on calcareous soils at an altitude of around 400 metres. The interplay of altitude, cool nights and loamy substrates ensures freshness, tension and aromatic depth. Pale straw yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. The aroma is delicate and complex: white flowers, yellow apple, lime zest, a hint of almonds and fine herbs. On the palate, Valcanzjria is straightforward, dry and precise – with lively acidity, salty minerality and a subtle creaminess that comes from ageing on fine lees in stainless steel. A balanced, modern white wine with a regional profile and invigorating freshness. SUPERIORE.DE

Bertani's Ripasso is a true classic. The grapes come from the hills around Valpantena and from the direct Valpolicella Classico area. The original Ripasso wine would have been an overloaded Valpolicella rather than a mini Amarone, and this example is true to this type and emphasises the fresh and light style of Valpantena, a long, steeply sloping valley with a particularly cool microclimate. Bertani uses the traditional method of production: The young, already fermented Valpolicella wine is blended with the skins that have dried naturally in the meantime, giving it a richer and more concentrated flavour. It then undergoes a second so-called "ripasso" fermentation, which is triggered by the yeasts still present in the skins.

Rosso di Montalcino exists because a count wanted it. When the Marone Cinzano family took over the estate in 1973, almost exclusively Brunello was bottled in Montalcino – the rest went into bulk. Count Alberto saw this "second wine" as more than a by-product and campaigned for the creation of an independent DOC. Rosso di Montalcino has had his name since 1983 – and Col d'Orcia played a decisive role in this. It comes from the south-facing vineyards of the estate at 250 metres, overlooking the Orcia River, which gave the estate its name. Biodynamically cultivated, calcareous soils, Sangiovese Grosso: the classic Montalcino foundation. In the cellar: temperature-controlled fermentation in shallow steel tanks for gentle extraction, then 10 to 12 months in large Slavonian oak barrels and cement tanks.

Irpinia is not Campania in the tourist sense – no sea, no Vesuvius, no Amalfi Coast. It is the inland area behind Avellino, a world of Apennine hills, chestnut forests and tranquillity, where viticulture has been deeply rooted since ancient times. Columella and Pliny already mentioned Fiano – as "Vitis Apicia" because of its ability to attract swarms of bees to the vineyards. Feudi di San Gregorio has been committed to this tradition in Sorbo Serpico since 1986. Pietracalda is their most precise expression of Fiano: a single vineyard of ten hectares, nestled between chestnut woods and old fruit trees at an altitude of 400 to 600 metres – a terroir that provides Fiano with freshness. Hand-picked, fermented in temperature-controlled steel, then aged sur lie for twelve months – longer than the normal Fiano, and it is precisely this difference that characterises the Riserva: more texture, more depth, more substance.

Prosecco Superiore La Primavera di Barbara dry shines bright and clear with a fine perlage in the glass. Complex aromas of peach, honeydew melon, jasmine and white pepper. On the palate, sweet fruit flavours are supported by herbal tones and a creamy texture. Great because on the one hand it is so uncomplicated and fragrant, but on the other very energetic and refined. A wonderful interpretation of the Rive di Col San Martino vineyard and, alongside the dry "Cuvée del Fondatore", the undisputed second top Prosecco of the house for us. SUPERIORE.DE

The "Collection" line is made from late-harvested grapes from selected, sun-drenched vineyards and stands for complex, straightforward wines that emphasise the terroir. The Comrades' vineyards are located in Siebeneich and Bolzano at 300 metres above sea level and offer ideal conditions for this wonderful Merlot to thrive. Dark ruby to garnet red in colour. Exuberant aromas of blackberry and wild berries, complemented by a refined spice component. On the palate, it is elegant, delicately fruity, almost polished. This Merlot is not at all plump like so many representatives of this grape variety - it is medium-bodied, finely accentuated and leads into a respectable finish with fine-pored tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

Some wines are documents. The "26° Primo" is both – wine and document at the same time. The name commemorates the 26th year that Azienda Agricola Andreola was founded: 2009, when Nazzareno Pola handed over the winery to his son Stefano and the denomination simultaneously made the leap to DOCG. A wine as a baton – between generations, between an ancient winemaking tradition and its modern aspirations. The grapes come from the oldest core estate of the winery: around four hectares of steep slopes in Col San Martino, the place in the southernmost part of the chain of hills between Vidor and Vittorio Veneto, where Andreola has been rooted since its foundation. The vineyards lie at an altitude of 300 to 500 metres – partly on calcareous conglomerate soils, partly on calcareous marl, interspersed with centuries-old Glera vines and small proportions of indigenous varieties such as Bianchetta, Perera and Verdiso. The slopes are so steep that all the work has to be done by hand. Viticoltura eroica – heroic winemaking – is not a marketing term here, but a daily reality.

Dusty rose and lavender tones complement wild strawberries. On the palate, it is characterised by juicy textures and ripe wild berries, complemented by a hint of orange zest and noticeable mineral notes. The Meczan rejuvenates with a fresh, almost crisp finish. A South Tyrolean Pinot Noir could hardly be more harmonious. SUPERIORE.DE

The Eloro DOC in south-east Sicily stands for Rosati with character, structure and regional typicity. Soft salmon pink with copper reflections. The nose has a complex aroma of wild strawberries, blood orange and Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, the 2024 is precise, fresh and delicately flavoured with delicate fruit, lively acidity and salty minerality. The Rosato is made exclusively from Nero d'Avola from the San Lorenzo vineyard, fermented spontaneously in stainless steel and matured on the fine lees – in the spirit of Gulfi: natural, purist and with a clear terroir expression. An elegant, authentic wine with a Mediterranean soul and energising freshness. Ideal with antipasti, grilled fish or on its own. SUPERIORE.DE

A Chianti Classico that is created when centuries-old tradition meets contemporary winemaking: organically farmed since the 1980s, the vineyards of Monti-in-Chianti and Vitignano (located slightly below) strive for expression and balance from clay-loam and limestone soils. The vines (90% Sangiovese supplemented by some Colorino, Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo) are rooted at altitudes between 250 metres and 330 metres above sea level.

The name ennobles: Baron Carl Josef Eyrl von und zu Waldgries und Liebenaich – is the full title of the patron, whose vineyards are located in the heart of the classic Lagrein growing area of Gries. The "Collection" line of the Bolzano winery stands for wines from selected vineyards that combine complexity with straightforwardness. After controlled fermentation in stainless steel, the wine matures for twelve months in large oak barrels – an ageing process that preserves the varietal character and gives the Lagrein a gentle polish.

From the heartland of Lagrein, the warm porphyry soils of Bolzano-Gries at 250 metres, comes this classic from the Bolzano winery. Formed in 2001 from the merger of the traditional Gries and St. Magdalena co-operatives, the Cantina is now one of the leading addresses for indigenous South Tyrolean grape varieties – not least thanks to the fine instinct of cellar master Stephan Filippi, who has been vinifying here for over three decades.

At the Ebnerhof farm in Atzwang, the Unterthiner family works on sandy marl at an altitude of 500 to 550 metres. The eastern slopes benefit from warm winds from the Bolzano valley basin, while cool downdraughts provide freshness at night – ideal conditions for a Pinot Blanc with substance. After temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine matures on the fine lees, part of it in acacia wood barrels, which gives it additional depth.

On the south-facing slopes between 260 and 380 metres above the Adige Valley, South Tyrol's most aromatic white wine unfolds its full seductive power. The unique terroir of Andriano – reddish-loamy limestone soils interspersed with angular dolomite rock – gives Movado its characteristic mineral base. Here, where the continental climate meets Mediterranean influences, the reddish-grey berries of the famous Traminer grape ripen to aromatic perfection. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, followed by six months of refinement on the fine lees, which gives Movado its characteristic texture and complexity.

Clean and refined white wine (Riesling & Durella) from volcanic soils with aromas of ripe yellow grapefruit, melon and a hint of wet straw. Medium-bodied with a silky texture that becomes slightly phenolic towards the end. A note of bitter lemon on the finish is exciting. Lots of crisp flavour, good freshness and length. SUPERIORE.DE

Grandiose Cannonau with a clear will: Sincaru ("serious") has a beautiful dialectic in its name and the sunny elegance of the Gallura terraces in the glass. 100% Cannonau from sun-drenched vineyards near Arzachena, on calcareous-sandy granite soil, clear mineral depth. The sea breeze with its cool nights ensures lively freshness and varietal typicity. In the glass, Sincaru has a dark ruby red colour with a subtle garnet rim. The aroma is open and aromatic: blackcurrant, ripe sour cherry, Mediterranean herbal notes and a hint of bergamot, carried by a fine, salty minerality. On the palate, the wine is round and supple, with lively acidity and softly coated tannins. The finish is clear, persistent and savoury-mineral – typically Gallura, elegant and full-bodied. A masterful Cannonau with a charming, contemplative character that makes you want to discover it. SUPERIORE.DE

Soligo and Col San Martino share the same geological origin – the same system of steep ridges between Vidor and Vittorio Veneto, the same limestone conglomerate rocks, the same heroic steepness of 300 to 500 metres. And yet the Más de Fer is a different wine. The difference lies in the soil. The plots on Col de Fer and San Gallo – around five hectares on a single contiguous slope, exposed to the south-east – grow exclusively on pure limestone conglomerate, without the marl inclusions that give Col San Martino its aromatic intensity. The thinnest soils, roots directly in the rock, constant light stress – but the result is not less, but different: fine elegance instead of power, verticality instead of breadth, a purity of expression that Andreola deliberately responds to with the extra dry dosage. The 14 g/l residual sugar is not a concession to the mass taste – they are the exact balance that this finesse needs.

One of the most characterful white wines in southern Italy comes from the high vineyards around Tufo – the Riserva Cutizzi version of Greco di Tufo is particularly elegant and brooding. The mineral soils of volcanic origin, the cool nights at 500 to 600 metres above sea level and the selective harvest characterise the distinctive profile of this exceptional white wine. Light golden yellow with silvery reflections in the glass. The bouquet reveals a dense yet focussed aroma: ripe yellow citrus fruit, nectarine, green fennel and a hint of wet chalk. Clear and structured on the palate, with a salty freshness and creamy texture that comes from ageing on the fine lees. Finishes with a fine almond note and a delicate, almost sparse mineral grip.