Wine

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

Excellent, single-varietal red wine from the ancient southern Italian Nero di Troia grape. Violante impresses with its delicately aromatic, red berry and delicately smoky bouquet. Fresh in flavour, well-structured and beautifully balanced between fruit and acidity, it is a wonderful accompaniment to food and a very good value everyday wine. SUPERIORE.DE

A Nero d'Avola with style and everyday suitability, vinified from vines in the province of Caltanissetta (on Lago di Disueri), where clay and limestone soils and large temperature differences between day and night ensure aromatic depth. Rich ruby red colour with a purple rim in the glass. Aromas of ripe cherries, blueberries, dried herbs and a hint of liquorice. Soft and fruity on the palate, with gentle tannins, lively freshness and good drinkability. The ageing in stainless steel maintains clarity and varietal typicity. A very typical and cleanly vinified Nero d'Avola with a Mediterranean character – ideal with pasta, braised vegetables or grilled meat. SUPERIORE.DE

The name says it all: La Gatta (the cat) doesn't sneak into the glass – she purrs her way into it. This Moscato d'Asti from the best plots around Canelli shows how much character can be found in a delicately sparkling white wine. The vines are rooted in calcareous soils with south to south-east exposure, which gives the grapes optimum ripeness and aromatic concentration. Harvested in the cool morning hours and fermented at a controlled temperature, the natural residual sugar is retained and fermentation is stopped early – this keeps the alcohol content low and the flavour high.

A rosato that carries the light of Sicily within it. The Frappato grape variety, known for its fragrant elegance, brings a lot of finesse and lightness to the glass, especially in rosé format. Grown on sandy, calcareous soils near Trapani and Marsala, the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve its fresh, fruity character. Delicate salmon pink colour with copper reflections. Smells of wild strawberries, pink grapefruit and a hint of hibiscus. Juicy and clear on the palate, with lively acidity, a delicate fruity flavour and a finely salty finish. A Mediterranean rosato with a fine finish – ideal as an aperitif or with antipasti, seafood and light summer cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

A grape variety like a phoenix rising from the ashes: Pecorino was considered almost extinct until the 1980s, displaced by higher-yielding varieties. Then it was rediscovered – and today this ancient Abruzzese grape is experiencing a spectacular renaissance. According to legend, it owes its name to the sheep (pecora), which loved to nibble on the sweet berries as they travelled through the vineyards. At Zaccagnini, pecorino grows on clayey soils in the provinces of Pescara and Chieti. The harvest at the end of August – later than for Trebbiano and Pinot Grigio – gives the wine its characteristic structure. After cryomaceration and gentle vacuum pressing, the must ferments at a low temperature in stainless steel.

The small vine wood on the neck of the bottle tells a story: In Bolognano, the small village in the province of Pescara where Zaccagnini has been making wine since 1978, the local women tie each Tralcetto to the bottle by hand with raffia. A symbol of the connection with the land that has long since become a trademark. The Bianco di Ciccio comes from vineyards on clayey soils, where the vines grow partly on the classic pergola and partly on a trellis. An early harvest at the beginning of August preserves the lively acidity. After gentle vacuum pressing and cold clarification, only the fine must fraction ferments at a controlled low temperature – a process that maximises freshness and aroma.

A Chardonnay that transports us to the Italian summer with the first sip: Fosche is like a morning light over Barolo – fresh, airy and simply lively. The grapes grow on gently sloping hills and the wine is fermented spontaneously in stainless steel to preserve the pure fruit and cool clarity. No wood, no masquerade – just Chardonnay at its most elegant and fresh. In the glass it has a light straw yellow colour with a silvery sheen. The nose opens with aromas of Golden Delicious and Williams pear, with delicate notes of orange blossom, citrus zest and a hint of apricot – all balanced on a fine mineral base. Fresh and lively on the palate, with elegant clarity. Citrus freshness and juicy fruit blend perfectly with a delicate creaminess from the fine yeast maturation, which lingers pleasantly on the long, sparkling, light finish. Light-footed enough for an aperitif, or just present enough to lift a spinach and salmon quiche to a new level. SUPERIORE.DE

A Sauvignon from Piedmont that doesn't overwhelm, but rather calmly tells a story – of gentle hills, morning mist and cool altitude. Tra Donne Sole, named after a novella by Cesare Pavese, plays quietly but impressively with the typicality of the grape variety. The grapes come from selected vineyards with calcareous soils that give the wine freshness and structure. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves precision and flavour. Pale straw yellow in the glass. The nose reveals clear aromas of lime, gooseberry and whitecurrant, accompanied by elderflower, freshly cut grass and a hint of passion fruit. The palate is lively but finely characterised, with juicy fruit, well-integrated acidity and a surprisingly elegant, slightly mineral final. A Piedmontese Sauvignon with finesse – unpretentious, fresh and absolutely enjoyable to drink. A white wine with a literary name and clear character. SUPERIORE.DE

Sparkling like a sunny day on the plain, this Barbera immediately radiates joie de vivre without drawing attention to itself loudly – the name Rosso Fuoco, meaning red wine of fire, carries its poetic part with dignity. The grapes are organically grown on gently undulating limestone-clay soil in Astigiano. Gentle manual harvesting, stainless steel processing and spontaneous ageing give the wine clarity and vitality, while the plump fruitiness remains uncomplicated.

Cerasuolo is not a rosé – at least not in the fashionable sense. It is an independent type of wine with its own DOC since 2010, deeply rooted in Abruzzo's wine culture. The name is derived from cerasa, the dialect word for cherry, and describes the characteristic colour that has accompanied the region's tables for centuries. Zaccagnini's Tralcetto is a lesson in what Montepulciano can do without prolonged contact with the skins: The grapes are gently pressed and only the must is fermented at a low temperature – at a low temperature to preserve the fruit. Brief ageing in stainless steel, then into the bottle.