Marche

Verdicchio – the name comes from verde, green – and that's exactly what this wine is all about: a fresh, lively energy that needs no explanation. 100% Verdicchio from the historic Classico region around Serra de' Conti, vinified in stainless steel, clearly focussed on fruit and freshness. Straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. Lemon, fresh apricot and hawthorn on the nose – light, inviting, with a hint of almond. Dry, juicy on the palate, with lively acidity and a fine salty minerality on the finish, which is typical of the hills between the Apennines and the Adriatic. The classic accompaniment to everything the sea has to offer – and the moment when you simply want to open a good white wine. SUPERIORE.DE

Passerina is one of the silent heroines of the Marche region. Less well-known than Verdicchio, but with a character of its own that is immediately recognisable: slender, fresh, uncomplicatedly charming. Garofoli deliberately picks the grapes a little earlier in order to preserve freshness and naturalness – gentle pressing, fermentation in steel tanks, clear lines. Pale straw yellow with greenish reflections. Apple, pear and acacia blossom on the nose – inviting and light. Fresh, soft and balanced on the palate, with a delicately bitter final that whets the appetite for more. Aperitivo, fish, seafood – or simply when the evening deserves an uncomplicated companion. SUPERIORE.DE

Delicate straw yellow with a greenish tinge. Fresh citrus fruit, green apple, white flowers and a hint of sage on the nose. Dry, light-footed and pleasantly cool on the palate, with lively acidity, subtle flavour and a clear, mineral finish. Maturation in stainless steel tanks emphasises freshness and varietal typicity. An uncomplicated but characterful white wine from the Marche region that combines Mediterranean lightness with a regional profile – ideal with fish, vegetables or simply on its own on a warm day. Great value! SUPERIORE.DE

History returns – also in wine: Passerina is a testament to the desire to bring back grape varieties of medieval origin, rich in a unique and delicate character. It is a very old variety, probably directly descended from wild vines, which may have arrived in Italy as early as the 6th century. The name Passerina reveals a charming story: it is derived from the Italian "passero" – sparrow. The little birds loved the sweet berries so much that the grape variety was named after them. For centuries, it was an insider tip in the Marche region, mostly hidden in cuvées, until visionaries like Saladini Pilastri recognised it: This variety deserves a solo career.

Deep ruby red in colour with a purple hue. On the nose, the wine radiates intense aromas of red and black fruits such as blackberry and plum, with floral lily notes and subtle spicy nuances. Medium-bodied, juicy and fresh on the palate, with elegant, rounded tannins and a pure, fruit-accentuated final. Made from 100% Montepulciano, organically grown on sandy-clayey, chalky soils in Abruzzo. Accessible, very charming and uncomplicated - a wine full of character for every day that combines origin and sustainability. SUPERIORE.DE

Pale straw yellow with a greenish tinge. Clear, varietal aromas on the nose: green almonds, white flowers, lemon and a hint of aniseed. Fresh, dry and balanced on the palate with fine fruit, lively acidity and subtle minerality. The organic ageing in stainless steel tanks preserves freshness and character of origin. Casal di Serra has stood for reliable quality in the appellation for years – a classic Verdicchio at a very attractive price with a Mediterranean profile and great everyday suitability. SUPERIORE.DE

"Foot of the meadow" – the name alone reveals that this vineyard is something special. Six hectares in Spinetoli, 120 metres above sea level, facing south-southwest on medium-heavy soils. Here, where the gentle hills of Piceno merge into fertile plains, the vines for one of the most consistent red wines in the Marche have been growing for over 30 years. 50% Montepulciano, 50% Sangiovese is the perfect Rosso-Piceno formula. Montepulciano provides the power and structure, Sangiovese the elegance and flavour. A liaison that has worked in the Marche region for centuries and which Saladini Pilastri has brought to organic perfection. 3,800 vines per hectare ensure the right concentration, and the grapes are hand-picked at the end of October when both varieties have reached optimum ripeness.

Pliny the Elder wrote that the Egyptians and Greeks equated wine with the place of its origin. In Piceno, the historic region of the Marche between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea, this has been true since ancient times: Rosso Piceno is not just a wine – it is a regional name that has endured for millennia. Tenuta di Tavignano cultivates its red wines on the ‘Adriatic slope’ of its estate – —the part of the vineyard that slopes down towards the coast, whilst the Verdicchio grows on the opposite side. Montepulciano brings body, dark fruit and a tannin-rich structure. Sangiovese lends freshness and aromatic vibrancy. Organically farmed since 2018.

In 1557, Mambrino Roseo da Fabriano described Verdicchio in words that still ring true today: "The finest of all white wines. It keeps well, is very clear, fragrant and pleasant." A botanist from the Marche region, almost five centuries before the advent of modern oenology. And he was right. Tenuta di Tavignano is situated in the hills west of Ancona, 20 kilometres from the Adriatic Sea, on east-facing slopes. Organically farmed. Six hectares of Verdicchio, planted in 1992, trained using the Guyot method, hand-harvested into small crates. Fermentation in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, aged for at least six months in stainless steel, followed by two months in the bottle.

This organic Rosato by Umani Ronchi was born at the Centovie winery in Roseto degli Abruzzi. A project defined after several years of experimentation, with the aim of producing a wine that combines the expressive power of the Montepulciano grape with a soft and delicate vinification to emphasise its fresh and fruity nuances. Delicate pink colour with shiny reflections. Floral and fresh on the nose with delicate citrus notes, crisp on the palate with beautiful acidity and notes of red cherry, strawberry, blood orange and pink grapefruit. Complex and long on the finish – a serious wine with a great drinking flow! SUPERIORE.DE

Lacrima means "tear". The small, dark berries burst when touched, leaving red marks on your hands, as if they were crying. The grape variety has borne this name for centuries and is found almost exclusively in the province of Ancona – one of the most distinctive and aromatic indigenous varieties in the Marche region. Umani Ronchi cultivates Lacrima for the Fonte del Re at altitudes of 150 to 200 metres, on deep clay soils with south-east and south-west exposure. Hand-harvested in mid- to late September. A maximum of ten days' maceration in stainless steel at 24°C, deliberately kept short to preserve the fruit aromas. Four months' ageing in stainless steel, followed by a short period of bottle ageing. The wine is part of the "NATIVE" range, which Umani Ronchi has dedicated to the preservation and promotion of indigenous Adriatic grape varieties.

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.

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.

Here comes plenty of backbone and maturity: Montetinello comes from older vines on slopes near Monteprandone. Montepulciano and Sangiovese are vinified separately and matured for several months in large wooden barrels – a step that adds structure and complexity. Deep ruby red in the glass with a slight garnet hue. Dark cherry, wild berries, tobacco, laurel and a hint of cedar on the nose. Juicy on the palate, with ripe fruit, a noticeable, well-integrated tannin structure and a fine spicy finish. Balanced, warm and well-structured – a classic Rosso Piceno Superiore with sophistication and depth. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep ruby red with a violet rim. Red fruit on the nose, especially cherry and raspberry, accompanied by subtle spicy notes and a hint of liquorice. Dry, fruity and smooth on the palate, with mild acidity and light tannins that give the wine structure. The wine is matured classically in stainless steel to preserve the primary fruit flavours. A charming and accessible Montepulciano – ideal for spontaneous enjoyment or as an accompaniment to medium-weight dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

A wine with style and substance: Pregio del Conte combines Montepulciano and other local grape varieties from organic cultivation in the estate's best locations. The wine is matured partly in large wooden barrels and partly in barriques – a step that gives the wine depth and structure. Dense ruby red colour with a violet core in the glass. Blackcurrant, cherry, pipe tobacco, herbal spice and a hint of dark chocolate on the nose. Powerful but well-balanced on the palate: ripe tannins, dark fruit, finely dosed wood spice and an elegant length. Pregio del Conte is concentrated and harmonious, with a classic ageing profile and modern appeal – a wine with inner tension and beautiful versatility. SUPERIORE.DE

Delicate straw yellow colour with a silvery sheen and lively perlage. The nose opens with fresh apricot, white flowers and a hint of lemon zest, accompanied by mild herbal notes and fine yeast spice. On the palate, the Spumante creates a fine interplay of animating freshness and delicate creaminess, carried by lively acidity and youthful fruit. The combination of the autochthonous Verdicchio and Passerina grape varieties lends minerality and balance, while the Charmat method ensures a certain directness and a lovely drinking flow. An aromatic spumante – perfect as a light aperitif or a stylish accompaniment to summer dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Grandmother Rosa would be proud: the brothers Giuseppe and Pierino Bisci dedicated this pale pink-coloured wine to the matriarch of their family – a loving tribute to the generation that laid the foundations for Bisci's success. While the winery has been world-famous for its legendary Verdicchio wines since 1972, "A Nonna Rosa" shows a rarely seen facet of Marche: elegant rosé vinification from Sangiovese and Merlot from those two hectares that are not planted with the main grape variety. In the hills between Macerata and Ancona, at an altitude of 320 to 370 metres, the red grapes thrive on calcareous clay soils – the former sea basin that also characterises Verdicchio's minerality.

Garofoli has been known for decades for its excellent sparkling wines. Here comes the new Rosé Frizzante made from 100% Montepulciano using the classic pet-nat method (Metodo Ancestrale), which is harvested in the last half of August and whose carbon dioxide is created almost unplanned by the almost complete fermentation of the sugar in the bottle. Bright salmon pink, floral, red berry notes, beautiful freshness, delicate mousseux and a fine yeast note on the final. Unfiltered. SUPERIORE.DE