Wine

Rami is an attractive and at the same time very individual blend of Grecanico and Inzolia. Bright golden yellow in colour with a slight, typical cloudiness of an orange wine and an initially restrained, reductive bouquet, with some aeration then sweetly scented with apricots, dried flowers and orange peel. This intellectual white needs time and a certain amount of experience with natural wines - with the necessary amount of oxygen, it is highly appetising and elegant on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

Our pure enthusiasm for this authentic and wonderfully traditional Chianti Classico, which the likeable Monica Raspi and her family have been presenting to us for years: bright ruby red, finely spiced, with refined fruit depth, well-proportioned flavour, powerful, crisp structure, classic acidity and Sangiovese style, racy and mineral final. SUPERIORE.DE

A red wine full of character from the southern shore of Lake Garda, made from Marzemino, Sangiovese and a hint of Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines grow on clayey and calcareous moraine soil, which gives the wine structure and minerality. Deep ruby red colour with a purple core in the glass. The bouquet opens with ripe wild berries, sour cherry and plum, as well as notes of violet, black pepper and a hint of liquorice. Powerful yet supple on the palate, with juicy fruit, well-integrated tannins and fine spice. A fresh, supporting acidity provides balance and flow. An expressive red wine with a regional accent that shines with both strong meat dishes and mature cheese. SUPERIORE.DE

Nerello Mascalese is known as the protagonist of the elegant Etna red wines – but as a rosato, this noble grape variety has a fascination all of its own. Benanti vinifies it as a single variety from the south-eastern slope of the volcano, where the vines are rooted in mineral-rich volcanic sands at an altitude of 500 to 700 metres. The grapes are harvested by hand at the beginning of October from vines on trellises that are on average 25 years old. After twelve hours of cold maceration, the grapes are gently pressed; only 65% of the must is transferred to the stainless steel tank. Ten days of fermentation at a controlled temperature with the winery's own Etna yeast, followed by maturation on the fine lees and two to three months of rest in the bottle.

The name comes from the Middle Ages: the "grosso agontano" was one of the most important silver coins in Italy, minted by the Maritime Republic of Ancona in the 13th century. A coin for trade routes, for trust, for value. Garofoli did not choose this name by chance – it sets the standard for their most important red wine. It only appears in the best years. Then, when the harvest in the Piancarda vineyard – within the Monte Conero nature reserve, on calcareous clay soil – the quality that justifies the DOCG classification. 100% Montepulciano, hand-picked, 10 to 15 days of maceration for maximum depth of colour and tannin structure, followed by malolactic fermentation. Maturation: 18 months in barriques, then more than 12 months in the bottle.

Pinot Grigio has been at home in the Isonzo for 140 years now; with the necessary sensitivity, it develops a great deal of elegance and structure and can almost be called autochthonous here. It is not surprising that Alvaro Pecorari has taken this grape variety to his heart. A finesse-rich white with a floral bouquet and a fine peach note. On the palate, multi-layered and quite complex, the 8-month yeast storage gives it depth, length and a good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

White postcard from the Langhe: gentle hills, morning breezes – and Arneis in its purest form. Arveja comes from selected, higher-lying parcels around Alba; the harvest is cool and selective, and the ageing is deliberately focussed on freshness and clarity. Pale straw yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. Open bouquet of white flowers, green apple skin, juicy pear with a hint of citrus zest, underneath a fine, stony-mineral tone. Straightforward, juicy on the palate, with lively acidity and a delicate creaminess in the flow. The fruit remains cool and precise, with a small almondy accent for a Piedmontese wink. The final is long and salty-fresh. An uncomplicated, elegant Arneis with a confident drinking pleasure – perfect as an aperitif, with antipasti, vitello tonnato or simply with a good piece of grilled trout. SUPERIORE.DE

The French grape variety has felt at home in the southern Eisack Valley since the end of the 19th century. At the Ebnerhof, Sauvignon grows on barren, stone-rich gravel and marl soil – it is precisely this sparseness that makes the difference. The Unterthiner family works with consistent yield regulation, manual defoliation and thinning out in order to obtain concentrated grape material. In the cellar, they rely on temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness typical of the variety.

Salcheto's garnet-red sparkling Vino Nobile delights us with a classic blend of dusty black cherries, cedar shavings, worn leather and sour citrus notes. On the palate, there is plenty of present fruit, a soft texture and a cool note, with savoury red fruits and cedar spice accompanied by lively acidity. Fine, sweet mellowness on the long finish. An authentic and pleasantly elegant organic wine from the heart of the Montepulciano region that is ready to drink when young. SUPERIORE.DE

A classic journey into the longing world of the South Tyrolean mountains: bright lemon yellow with golden yellow accents. Pinot Blanc Anna Turmhof, with flavours of pear, peach and floral notes, is an unusually soft and beautiful wine, rich and concentrated, with class and refinement. Its fresh acidity is a lively accompaniment to the very captivating and complex finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Bright, sparkling silver-grey with a persistent perlage. The nose is fragrant with white roses, juicy pears and white peach. Juicy on the palate, radiant and with a great fruity sweetness, it opens up with presence and balance, pleasantly dosed in all its facets. SUPERIORE.DE

In 1985, estate manager Giuseppe Bianchini inherited this estate in Castelnuovo dell'Abate from the childless Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini. His dream: to make great Brunello. Today, his children Paolo and Lucia run the estate with 55 hectares of vines and a view of Sant'Antimo Abbey. Their Rosso di Montalcino comes from the "Fonte" vineyard. 100% Sangiovese, matured in Slavonian oak. Bright ruby red in colour, raspberry and wild strawberry on the nose, medium-bodied on the palate with fine tannins and lively acidity. The elegance of the house without having to wait and a Rosso that makes Piccolomini's greatness tangible even when young. SUPERIORE.DE

It took seven years and 35 purchase agreements to bring together the scattered parcels of Montebruna. When they succeeded, the joy was so great that the Bolognas invited artists, poets and musicians to give voice and verse to this vineyard. "Una terra che parla" – a land that speaks – they called the project. And indeed, anyone who drinks Montebruna hears Rocchetta Tanaro speak. The vines are rooted in Braida's heartland, 100% Barbera from their own vineyards. Two weeks of maceration in temperature-controlled steel, then a year of ageing in large oak barrels – classic, without barrique dominance.

The Pratto is a provocation – in the best sense of the word. When Ca' dei Frati became one of the founding members of the DOC Lugana in 1969 and made history with its elegant Turbiana wines, nobody would have thought that the winery would one day deliberately produce outside the strict rules of origin. But that is exactly what Pratto is: a deliberate departure from conventional systems without losing respect for the terroir. The Dal Cero family composes a cuvée from Trebbiano di Lugana (Turbiana), Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc – three grape varieties that benefit from the Mediterranean climate of Lake Garda and the nutrient-rich, glacial clay soils.

A project from the heart in two senses: Core (Italian for heart) is an elegant blend of 50% Greco Bianco and 50% Fiano, whose contrast and harmony subtly reflect the essence of Campania. The grapes come from chalky, medium to high altitude vineyards in the Sannio region – ripened on cool nights with great aromatic precision. The stainless steel fermentation with bâtonnage on the fine lees brings depth without too much weight. Core is a fresh, harmonious white wine with a great sense of origin that conveys the origin and grape variety in a stylish way.

Chiara Boschis' characterful Dolcetto comes from the organically farmed vineyards of Barolo and Monforte d'Alba, whose old, calcareous and clayey marl soils with siliceous sandstone, calcium carbonate and iron give the grapes structure and finesse. In the glass, it is ruby red in colour with a violet hue. The bouquet opens with juicy cherry, small forest fruits and delicate notes of violet. Dry and straightforward on the palate, with lively freshness, fine tannins and harmonious, juicy fruit, characterised by pure stainless steel ageing. An authentic Dolcetto that combines the classic Piedmont tradition with the precision of meticulous vineyard work. SUPERIORE.DE

Lugana as a sparkling wine? The idea sounds unusual, but Sergio Zenato has been pursuing it since the winery was founded in the 1960s. He recognised early on that Trebbiano di Lugana, with its fine acidity and aromatic purity, was ideal for traditional bottle fermentation. Hand-picked in mid-September, gentle whole-cluster pressing, fermentation with natural yeasts at 16°C in stainless steel. This is followed by the decisive step: the second fermentation in the bottle according to the Metodo Classico – the same method used in Champagne. The Spumante sur lie matures for a full 24 months before remuage and dégorgement release the fine flavours.

Ca' di Pian is a modern classic among Barbera d'Asti wines – spirited, fruity and at the same time deeply rooted in the terroir of Monferrato. The grapes come from old vineyards in Castagnole and Costigliole d'Asti, where the Barbera finds optimal conditions on calcareous marl soils in a sunny south and south-west exposure. The wine is vinified in the classic way: temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by around 12 months of ageing in used French barriques.

Scalabrone is generous, but also incredibly fresh. It shows ripe strawberries with a hint of sweet cream, tropical kiwi and lime. It washes over the palate with lightness, carrying ripe red fruit, a hint of melon and a savoury minerality. The finish is long and flanked by lively acidity and salty minerals. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah is perfectly balanced and makes this flavoursome rosato one of the most vibrant in the appellation every year. SUPERIORE.DE

Dark and initially a little brooding, Sceg shimmers from the glass with a rich and earthy blend of plum sauce, brown spices and crushed autumn leaves. The wine is silky smooth and balanced by vibrant acidity, while a contrasting wave of black fruit with citrus flavours washes over the senses. Smoky nuances and hints of ash resonate. Nevertheless, it finishes remarkably fresh, leaving a subtle hint of mineral tannins that remind the Basilicata connoisseur that this is a young Aglianico in its purest form. The grapes for Sceg come from several small plots with old vines in Barile. SUPERIORE.DE

Sparkling light yellow colour with green reflections. Clear, very broad aroma of apple, citrus, meadow herbs and pear fruit, rich on the palate and with the powerful, taut freshness and invigorating fruit acidity typical of the high altitudes of the Venosta Valley. SUPERIORE.DE

Montegrilli is a declaration of love to the Langhe terroir and a deliberately chosen distance from the house's Barolo style: no woody notes, instead the focus is on pure Nebbiolo purity. The grapes come from a vineyard of just 1.4 hectares in the Ravera zone near Novello. They ripen on sandy, calcareous soil under the sun of the southern slopes, in a microcosm that ensures immediate, elegant freshness. After manual harvesting, fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, followed by eight months of ageing in steel.