Wine

A Vermentino with lightness and voice that epitomises the granite landscape of Gallura as well as the fresh sea breeze. The name Limizzani is reminiscent of ancient Mediterranean places of worship and lends the wine a mystical flavour – a northern Sardinian reminiscence that resonates in every sip. The grapes come from our own vineyards near Arzachena. Hills with sandy-granitic subsoil, close to the coast and aerated. The limestone-rich soils provide minerality, while the Atlantic wind adds freshness – the result is a refreshing base note with aromatic clarity. The style in the vineyard and cellar follows a purist path: Hand-picking, gentle pressing, static temperature fermentation in stainless steel and around six months on the fine lees, no wood notes, but maximum varietal purity.

Regaleali Nero d'Avola is a classic among Sicilian red wines – has symbolised the signature style of Tenuta Tasca d'Almerita since the 1950s. The grapes come from clay and limestone soils at medium altitude, the climate is continental with strong day-night differences that give the grape variety freshness and clarity. A bright ruby red colour with violet reflections in the glass. The aroma is open and typical of the variety: red cherry, plum, a hint of black pepper, violets and a hint of sweet liquorice. Juicy and medium-bodied on the palate, with a gentle texture, soft tannins and balanced acidity. The fruit remains in the foreground, supported by a subtle spiciness and a fine mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The dense, well-articulated Rigoleto made predominantly from organically grown Sangiovese grapes is extremely drinkable. The bouquet beguiles with beautiful aromas of dried plums and dark cherries. Opens with a lively bouquet of wild strawberries, rhubarb, violets and crushed stones. Silky to the touch, Rigoleto has impressive weight yet wonderful energy as a wave of ripe red and blue fruit swirls under the scent of lavender and spice. SUPERIORE.DE

The ruins of Pfeffersburg Castle tower above the village of Nals – a medieval structure that gave the wine its name. And the name is more apt than it sounds: ‘Pfeffer’ (pepper) describes the aromatic heart of the Edelvernatsch – —that delicate, peppery-fruity interplay which sets this native South Tyrolean variety apart from any other red wine grape in the region. The Pfeffersburger comes from St. Magdalena near Bolzano, one of South Tyrol’s most traditional Edelvernatsch vineyards. Steep slopes on porphyry-rich soil, at altitudes of 250 to 350 metres, hand-harvested. After fermentation in stainless steel, the wine matures for seven months in 80-hectolitre oak barrels – — large and neutral, used solely for texture.

NM – two letters, two villages, one cuvée. Nals in the north, with its mineral-rich porphyry and limestone gravel soils at higher altitudes. Margreid in the south, with its broodinglimestone soils in the sub-Mediterranean climate of the lower Adige valley. What has set this winery apart since 1932 is precisely this dialogue between two different terroirs – and the NM is its most direct, inviting expression. 70% Chardonnay brings body and texture, whilst 30% Sauvignon Blanc contributes aromatic freshness and vibrancy. The Ora, the warm afternoon breeze from Lake Garda, ensures even ripening in both vineyards. Hand-harvested, clarified must, three weeks in stainless steel, five months on the fine lees. Screw cap – a deliberate commitment to freshness.

The eponymous hill of St. Magdalena in the north of Bolzano gives this authentic South Tyrolean classic its unmistakable character. The autochthonous Vernatsch and Lagrein grape varieties grow harmoniously side by side on the loose moraine debris soils of the historic vineyards of St. Magdalena, St. Justina and Leitach between 200-500 metres above sea level – a symbiosis that has epitomised the essence of South Tyrolean viticulture for centuries. The traditional cuvée benefits from the ideal climatic conditions of the protected slopes above Bolzano, where warm days and cool nights give the grapes their characteristic balance between fruitiness and elegance. The geological composition of the glacial debris soils ensures optimum drainage and gives the wine its typical mineral structure.

The steep slopes of St. Magdalena near Bolzano, between 300 and 350 metres above sea level, are home to this legendary South Tyrolean red wine speciality. The autochthonous Vernatsch grape thrives here in ideal climatic conditions on moraine debris soils facing south and south-east. The cuvée of 90% Vernatsch and 10% Lagrein is vinified by the renowned St. Michael-Eppan winery, which has been one of the leading co-operatives in South Tyrol since 1907. The grapes are hand-picked at the beginning of October and carefully selected. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation before being matured in steel tanks.

The vineyards are situated 15 metres above sea level, facing west, on soils composed of river sediment with a sandy texture. The coastal sunshine shines through in the radiant straw-yellow hues of this wine. The fresh bouquet offers notes of lemon and freshly cut green apples, along with hints of mint and sage; these Mediterranean impressions are also reflected on the palate. A delicious, lingering and highly versatile Vermentino from western Tuscany. SUPERIORE.DE

A red wine with a southern heart and depth: this Aglianico del Molise comes from organically cultivated vineyards at classic altitudes. It is aged for 18 months in large wooden barrels, which gives it structure and maturity without masking the fruit. Dense ruby colour with a violet core. Blackcurrant, blackberry, liquorice, some smoke and Mediterranean herbs on the nose. Powerful yet balanced on the palate, with well-integrated tannins, lively acidity and a mineral finish. A characterful, honestly vinified Aglianico that impressively expresses the originality of the Molise region and its excellent value in the bottle. SUPERIORE.DE

The Garofoli winery is a true gem amongst the winemakers of the Italian Marche region and is renowned for its terrificVerdicchio from the Castello di Jesi DOC. It is therefore no surprise that this family-run business is now also demonstrating its capabilities in the Matelica DOC. It is from here – mostly from the higher-altitude vineyards – that some of the finest examples of their kind come: complex, mineral, fresh and long-lasting.

A new name – and a real one: Garofoli rechristened its classic with the 2023 vintage. Not out of a marketing whim, but out of conviction. Piancarda "Blu" – the blue stands for the Adriatic Sea, which can almost always be seen from Monte Conero. The vineyard is located within the Monte Conero Nature Reserve, on calcareous-clay soils that give Montepulciano the depth that makes this grape variety on the coast of central Italy so unmistakable. 100% Montepulciano. Maceration for 8 to 10 days, followed by 15 months in large wooden barrels and 6 months in the bottle.

The grapes for Maurizio Castelli's new, crisp and fresh white wines come from a vineyard on Monte Bottigli, a "forteto" known to the locals for its wild and impenetrable nature. They ripen with a view of the panorama of the Tuscan archipelago and ideally embody the maritime character of the Maremma. Bright yellow with a bouquet characterised by floral and yellow-fleshed fruit aromas. On the palate, it has a medium structure, complexity and persistence, and its freshness makes it extremely enjoyable in the glass. For us, Costa Ovest is the ideal summer wine! SUPERIORE.DE

Monte Conero drops steeply down to the Adriatic Sea. This striking limestone cliff marks the northernmost boundary where Montepulciano still thrives, as it shields the hills behind it from the cold north-easterly winds that sweep along the coast. The result is a microclimate in which Montepulciano develops an elegance rarely found in the warmer south. Since 1982, the first vintage of San Lorenzo, Umani Ronchi has made this wine the hallmark of this area. Vineyards in Osimo and Ancona, clay-limestone soils, hand-harvested from late September to early October. Ten to twelve days maceration in stainless steel, followed by 18 months in a combination of large wooden casks and used barriques.

The world knows Montefalco above all in its dark red colour – sagrantino, tannin, depth. The fact that the Caprai house, which helped write this red legend, also produces white wines of distinction is its best kept secret. The Bianco Montefalco combines two very different partners: Trebbiano Spoletino – the autochthonous Umbrian grape variety, aromatic, fresh and acidic, with a subtle floral flavour – and Chardonnay, which adds fullness and flavour to the blend. No wood, just steel and time: three months of ageing, three months in the bottle. The result is not a white wine that tries to show off, but one that has a very respectable balance.

A wine of contrasts: Müller-Thurgau (70%) and Gewürztraminer (30%) – typically Nordic grape varieties – find a surprisingly ideal terroir on the slopes of the extinct volcano Monte Vulture. Founded in 1998, the Terre degli Svevi winery near Venosa, named after the Hohenstaufen dynasty and their king Manfred, utilises the volcanic soils and the strong day-night fluctuations to fully exploit the aromatic properties of these varieties. The grapes are harvested by hand at the beginning of September, left briefly on the skins and fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel. Two months of ageing on the lees round off the wine.

Rosamundi is one of the oldest rose species in Europe – the Gallic rose, cultivated by the Greeks and Romans, cultivated in medieval gardens and recognised as one of the most important of its kind in the 19th century. Morisfarms has chosen this name for a rosé that does it justice: historically rooted, botanically precise, with a quiet elegance. 100% Sangiovese from the Poggetti estate in Massa Marittima – clay-rich soils, south-west exposure, seven kilometres of sea air. The grapes are harvested in mid-September. What follows is the decisive factor: The skins are removed immediately after gentle pressing – no contact with the skins, vinification like a white wine. Fermentation in steel under dry ice protection, 15 days on the fine lees, fresh in the bottle.

Manzoni Bianco or Incrocio Manzoni is a cross between Riesling Renano and Pinot Bianco. It was named after its breeder, Professor Luigi Manzoni, who first crossed and cultivated it in the 1930s. Straw yellow colour with greenish reflections. Elegant, delicate and very clear bouquet with the aroma of Williams pear and peach. On the palate of exuberant freshness and suppleness, plus sweet-spicy notes of mint and yellow apple, which bring it into wonderful balance with the bright acidity. The full body of the Pinot Blanc and the effervescence of the Riesling have been very palatably put into the bottle here. SUPERIORE.DE

This approachable Rosso Toscana IGT hails from the higher elevations of Chianti Classico, situated around a 10th-century Romanesque parish church. The blend, sourced from the estate's own vineyards, skilfully combines the freshness and finesse of Sangiovese with the structure and smoothness of Merlot. Following separate vinification of the grape varieties, the wine is aged for ten months in French and American oak barrels.