Wine

Arnaldo Caprai is Umbria – or more precisely: Montefalco. The house that brought Sagrantino out of its slumber and turned it into an international great has been in family hands since 1971. "Anima Umbra" is the light-footed side of this winery – no claim to eternity, but all the more pleasure in the moment. 85% Grechetto, 15% Trebbiano Spoletino. Three months in steel, three months in bottle – clear, direct, without detours. Grechetto provides the backbone: structure, a slight bitterness, mineral freshness. Trebbiano Spoletino rounds off, adds flavour and volume.

The name says it all: Ottocento refers to the traditional 19th century method by which this wine is partially fermented. 50% Lambrusco Salamino – fruity, acidic, 40% Lambrusco Grasparossa – full-bodied, soft, 10% Ancellotta for colour and depth. The Cantina itself calls it the duel between "il diavolo e l'acqua santa" – devil and holy water. The pinch of mousse in the Charmat process emphasises the grape varieties without overpowering them.

Named after an iron-rich cave in the region, this wine symbolises what characterises the Sulcis in southern Sardinia: rough, warm, mineral and yet full of charm – and yet full of charm. The Carignano grapes come from old vines rooted in the calcareous, clayey-sandy soils around Santadi. The Mediterranean climate with warm days and cool nights promotes ripeness and freshness in equal measure. After temperature-controlled fermentation and completed malolactic fermentation, the wine matures traditionally in cement tanks.

Villa Grazianella – a 17th century villa surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and orchards on the hills of Acquaviva – stands at the heart of the Fattoria del Cerro, the largest private producer of Nobile di Montepulciano. The new wine name is both a tribute and an indication of origin. The Rosso di Montepulciano is made from Prugnolo Gentile – the local Sangiovese clone that has adapted to the climate and soil of the Colli Senesi over the centuries. Fermentation at a controlled temperature with daily pumping over, followed by maturation in the cellar for at least four months.

Soave has an image problem with many – wrongly so. Anyone who believes that the name stands for pale white wine with no origin is not yet familiar with the eastern hills of Colognola ai Colli. Here, on volcanic soils with sulphurous minerality, Garganega grows with a precision that one would not expect. Monte di Colognola bears the name of its UGA – the Additional Geographical Unit, one of the largest and westernmost hills in the denomination.

A red wine that doesn't disguise itself. The cuvée of 50% Nero d'Avola, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc comes from organically farmed vineyards between Menfi and Noto – from limestone and clay soils that give the wine structure without imposing heaviness. 2024 was a tight, hot year in Sicily: 30% less harvest than normal, but perfect ripeness. The mash fermented for 7–8 days in stainless steel, initially cool at 16–17°C, open to 25°C towards the end – gentle, precise, fruit-centred.

The grapes for this wonderful Soave Classico come from the cru sites in front of the Castello di Soave and on the Costeggiola hill, a very hilly terrain with a silty-sandy texture, rich in active limestone and volcanic rock. Floral and delicate notes of fresh yellow fruit. Dry on the palate, beautifully expressive and very precise with a lively freshness. A very appealing everyday wine with a lovely drinkability. SUPERIORE.DE

100% Syrah from the south coast of Sicily, characterised by the warm climate and the limestone-rich soils around Butera. In the glass, the wine is dark ruby in colour with violet reflections. The bouquet is intense and spicy: black cherry, blackberry, some black pepper and fine roasted flavours. Powerful and juicy on the palate, with soft tannins, a mild, well-supporting acidity and a pleasantly spicy final. A versatile, modern red with a clear structure. SUPERIORE.DE

Sicily at its brightest, lightest-footed best. The Planeta family's Segreta vineyards are located between Menfi and Sambuca di Sicilia – on calcareous soils close to the sea and on the cool, gravel-strewn slopes of the Ulmo estate at 210 metres above sea level. It is precisely this combination that characterises the Bianco: 40% Grecanico as the aromatic backbone, complemented by Grillo, Chardonnay and other varieties in equal proportions. Fermented at a cool 15–16°C, then on the fine lees with weekly bâtonnage – no wood, no intervention, just texture and freshness.

Damascene roses bloom on the label – the ‘painters’ roses’, one of the oldest rose varieties in the world, renowned for their exceptional quality and enchanting fragrance. Planeta did not choose them by chance: the Damask rose describes the wine better than any technical term ever could. Nero d’Avola and Syrah – complemented by a small proportion of Sauvignon Blanc – from the vineyards of the family estate in Menfi, in south-western Sicily, on clay soils bathed in the Mediterranean breeze and Sicilian sun. Organically farmed.

A typical Grillo variety from the western half of Sicily, the grapes come from vines on calcareous soil at medium altitude near Salemi. Brilliant straw yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. Ripe yellow fruit, some grapefruit, honeydew melon and a hint of salty sea breeze on the nose. The 2024 is clear and juicy on the palate, with well-integrated acidity, a fine extract sweetness, some lime zest and noticeable minerality on the finish. The ageing in stainless steel preserves freshness and purity. A characterful, Mediterranean white wine with restrained elegance – goes perfectly with antipasti, grilled fish or summer vegetable dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

When you think of Umbria in red – and immediately think of Sagrantino. But Caprai knows that not every evening calls for a grand entrance. "Anima Umbra" Rosso is the honest antithesis, suitable for everyday use – made from the indigenous Sangiovese and Canaiolo varieties that have characterised Umbria for centuries, long before Sagrantino took over the headlines. Eight months in barriques, then in the bottle. The result: bright ruby red, redcurrant, plum, violet, fine tannin – dry, fresh, with natural fruit and the character of a region that has more to offer than just one star. With pasta with meat sauce, arrosto, salumi. This is Umbria, completely relaxed. SUPERIORE.DE

Cerasuolo – the name is derived from cerasa, cherry, and also describes the bright colour of this rosé made from pure Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. The Di Properzio brothers have been vinifying it in Spoltore near Pescara since 1990: hand-picked, 18 hours of maceration, then saignée and slow fermentation at low temperature in stainless steel. No wood, no frills – just grape variety and terroir. Cherry red in the glass, fresh sour cherry, strawberry and a hint of pomegranate on the nose. Lively acidity on the palate, juicy flavour and a salty minerality reminiscent of the proximity to the Adriatic. Not a pale terrace rosé, but a wine with a backbone – and one of Italy's often underestimated rosés. SUPERIORE.DE

Cerasuolo means cherry red – and the name says it all. What Illuminati vinifies from Montepulciano grapes as rosato has nothing to do with the pale summer rosé that you forget between two deckchairs. Only 15 hours of maceration at a cool temperature – just enough to extract colour, aroma and the characteristic Adriatic salt fingerprint without taking any tannin or heaviness with it. Then fermentation in white, steel, care.

Nicola Illuminati founded Fattoria Nicò in Controguerra in 1890. Dino Illuminati turned it into a name that Abruzzo fans around the world recognise – and Stefano Illuminati continues this work today, with the same vineyards, the same indigenous grape varieties and the same respect for Montepulciano. The Lumeggio di Rosso is no small wine: it is proof that this producer wants to be taken seriously even without Riserva ambitions. 100% Montepulciano, Pergola Abruzzese at 260 metres, hand-picked at the beginning of October. Maceration at 28 °C, then six months in 25-hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels.

Tonaghe carries the soul of Sardinia in its glass: a Cannonau that comes from three differently characterised regions – spoilt by the sun in the hills of Oliena, spiced by the sea breeze in the rugged Sinis and characterised by the hauntingterroir of the coastal region of Ogliastra. The grape variety releases a natural temperament. Fermentation and ageing take place in stainless steel and wood – a composition that harmonises freshness and structure.

Delicate salmon pink with a copper shimmer – a rosato of subtle elegance. Redcurrant, rosehip, pink grapefruit and a hint of herbal hay on the nose. On the palate, the indigenous Bombino Nero is characterised by fresh acidity, fine fruit expression and salty minerality. Ageing in stainless steel tanks preserves clarity and finesse. "Pungirosa" is a wonderful Castel del Monte DOCG Rosato – light-footed, but not insignificant. A wine with character that skilfully translates the freshness of the limestone slopes into the glass and sets new standards every year. SUPERIORE.DE

A name with history: Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, the bold 15th century general, once lived on this estate – piero della Francesca immortalised him in a portrait that now hangs in the Louvre. After the devastation of the wars, the Ricci family began to rebuild the estate in the 1950s; the entire vineyard has been certified organic since 2021. Battista comes from vineyards at an altitude of 150 metres, characterised by brown, calcareous clay soils. The grapes are pressed immediately after the harvest to maximise freshness. Fermentation and ageing take place in stainless steel and three months on the fine lees give the wine a subtle fullness without heaviness.

Fiumana di Predappio – sangiovese has had its home here since the Middle Ages. The estate's lowest vineyards between 80 and 150 metres provide the grapes for the Federico, named after the family's long-time employee. Fermentation and nine months of ageing take place 70% in stainless steel and 30% in oak wood – enough structure without masking the fruit. Bright ruby red colour. The nose literally leaps out of the glass: fresh cherries, raspberries, a hint of herbs and violets. Lean and juicy on the palate, with fine tannins that invite you to take another sip. A charming Sangiovese that does not make you ponder, but is a pleasure to drink – uncomplicated in the best sense of the word, certified organic and exactly what an everyday wine should be. SUPERIORE.DE