Tuscany

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.

This cuvée, made from 85% Sangiovese and 15% other grape varieties, comes from the historic vineyards near Gaiole in Chianti. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, whilst traditional ageing methods preserve the typical Sangiovese freshness and the authentic Chianti character. Bright ruby red in the glass. The bouquet is characterised by dark fruit: black cherries and redcurrants, accompanied by elegant hints of violet and balsamic notes of liquorice and mint. On the palate, it is juicy and refreshing, with the characteristic playful acidity of Sangiovese, velvety spice and charming fruity notes that linger right through to the finish. An unpretentious yet refined Chianti of remarkable authenticity. SUPERIORE.DE

The name says it all: Badilante pays tribute to the workers who, for generations, used their spades to drain and cultivate the marshy lands of the Maremma. Simone Castelli, son of the legendary OenologistMaurizio, vinifies this single-varietal Sangiovese at the organically farmed Podere 414 vineyard near Scansano. The grapes grow at an altitude of 230 metres in loamy-clay soils with a high proportion of coarse material. Spontaneous fermentation in concrete, 15–18 days’ maceration with délestage and remontage, followed by ageing partly in concrete and partly in wood.

Castelnuovo dell'Abate is located at the southern tip of Montalcino – right next to the Romanesque Abbey of Sant'Antimo, one of the most important ecclesiastical monuments in Tuscany. The Fanti family has lived here for generations. When the Sant'Antimo DOC was founded in 1996, Filippo and Elisa Fanti were involved from the very beginning – out of a close bond with this place, its soil and its history. Sassomagno, named after the stony, rocky character of the terroir – is their most personal commitment to this region: a Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, which shows the versatility of Montalcino's southern location in an accessible, easy-drinking form.

Montepulciano thinks in red. The Prugnolo Gentile, this stubborn Sangiovese clone, is bred for the long haul – for Nobile, for Riserva, for decades in the cellar. The fact that it is also so convincing as a rosato has to do with the terroir: the Toraia and Casale cru sites at 300 to 350 metres, clayey-silty soils, south to south-east exposure. Hand-picked at the end of September, cryomaceration for four to five hours.

Gròttolo means "little grotto". A fitting name for an estate whose cellar is dug deep into the rock – four levels, designed according to the principles of bio-architecture by Edoardo Milesi. No pumps, just gravity. Down there, where the temperature remains constant and time passes differently, this Rosato also matures. Sangiovese, gently pressed, with a short maceration at cool temperatures, then aged in stainless steel – this is how Montecucco’s most important grape variety is transformed into a rosé that expresses the character of the terroir in a different colour.

I Vini del Mare Belvento – this name stands for the still young project of the Moretti family and explains which wines are produced here in the Maremma near the coast: The wines of the Sea of Fair Winds. "According to legend, this is the sea into which Aphrodite scattered the pearls of her necklace and from which Tuscany was born. The beauty of the region makes us believe this legend! But scientifically speaking, the Belvento, the beautiful wind, is an important factor in the development of grape quality, as it is precisely this wind that ensures good ventilation of the vineyard, the cooling breeze that keeps the freshness in the grapes and makes these wines so pleasantly invigorating." Flavours and aromas are always created here from the interplay of land and sea. This is why the labels of Belvento wines depict the animal species that live on the coast, in the waters and in the nearby nature reserve.

"According to legend, this is the sea into which Aphrodite scattered the pearls of her necklace and from which Tuscany was born. The beauty of the region makes us believe this legend! But scientifically speaking, the Belvento, the beautiful wind, is an important factor in the development of grape quality, as it is precisely this wind that ensures good ventilation of the vineyard, the cooling breeze that keeps the freshness in the grapes and makes these wines so pleasantly invigorating." Flavours and aromas are always created here from the interplay of land and sea. This is why the labels of Belvento wines depict the animal species that live on the coast, in the waters and in the nearby nature reserve. I Vini del Mare Belvento – this name stands for the still young project of the Moretti family and explains which wines are produced here in the Maremma near the coast: The wines of the Sea of Fair Winds.

This Chianti, made from Sangiovese with a small proportion of Merlot, is ruby red with violet hues. It is grown on the gentle hills of Montespertoli in the heart of Tenuta Castiglioni, whose winemaking tradition dates back to the 14th century. After fermentation, the wine matures for six months in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, before a period of bottle ageing rounds out the flavours and brings the wine to its final balance.

The name says it all, as this is a rosato that is reminiscent of the unconventional times of 1968 in terms of its lightness and vivacity. In the glass, it has a radiant, delicate peach-pink colour – almost as if a sunrise had taken wing. A floral bouquet of grapefruit, pineapple, apricot and wild meadow flowers heralds various adventures. On the palate, it remains dancingly light, with bone-clear acidity and crisp fruit, slightly salty notes and an expression of redcurrants round off the picture. Unfiltered, direct, fresh – an invigorating counterpoint to everyday grey life. Flower Power combines Sangiovese with reductive clarity, drinkability and catchiness – puristic, pink and full of emotion. SUPERIORE.DE

From the youngest vineyards of the 530-hectare Camigliano estate – where the tufa soils on the south-western slope of Montalcino give the Sangiovese particularly juicy fruit and fragrant flavour. 80% Sangiovese, supplemented by 20% Merlot for supple fullness. After gentle pressing, the wine ferments at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, then matures in large barrels and rests in the bottle for a few weeks before bottling. Vivid ruby red with garnet nuances, aromas of sour cherry, wild berries and a hint of liquorice, fruity and fresh on the palate, with soft tannins and animating length. SUPERIORE.DE

In Renaissance Florence, the Spezieri were merchants of spices and rare essences – masters of the art of blending. Col d'Orcia has dedicated a wine to this profession, and the name fits well: Spezieri combines Sangiovese with Ciliegiolo – the cherry grape variety that has been at home in Montalcino for centuries – and small quantities of other varieties from the estate. A Tuscan blend, organically grown on 140 hectares around the hamlet of Sant'Angelo in Colle. Col d'Orcia is one of Montalcino's most important estates. Spezieri is its most accessible wine – fruity, flavoursome, light-footed, intended for everyday drinking. In summer, it can be enjoyed slightly chilled, in winter at a table setting.

Avignonesis's straightforward everyday wine combines Tuscan tradition with international grape varieties: Sangiovese and Merlot form the backbone, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorino and Syrah. The grapes undergo an eight-day maceration at a controlled temperature, with alcoholic fermentation carried out by natural yeasts from the winery's own "Pied-de-Cuve" selection. After eight months' ageing in stainless steel, the wine presents a ruby red colour with inviting aromas of ripe cherries and blackberries, underpinned by liquorice. On the palate, it is lively and full-bodied with direct fruit, supported by velvety-soft tannins and a pleasant length reminiscent of Mediterranean scrub. A versatile and invigorating everyday companion. SUPERIORE.DE

I Vini del Mare Belvento - this name stands for the still young project of the Moretti family, as it describes the wines they harvest and press here in the Maremma, close to the sea: the wines of the Sea of Fair Winds. "According to legend, this is the sea into which Aphrodite scattered the pearls of her necklace and from which Tuscany was born. The beauty of the region makes us believe this legend! But scientifically speaking, the Belvento, the beautiful wind, is an important factor in the development of grape quality, as it is precisely this wind that ensures good ventilation of the vineyard, the cooling breeze that keeps the freshness in the grapes and makes these wines so pleasantly invigorating." Flavours and aromas are always created here from the interplay of land and sea. This is why the labels of Belvento wines depict the animal species that live on the coast, in the waters and in the nearby nature reserve.

Belvento – the favourable wind. That is the name of Petra's maritime wine project, born of that narrow stretch of landscape where the metal-coloured hills of the Val di Cornia meet the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Velarosa is its rosé, and the name itself evokes both an image and a promise: a pink sail catching the wind. 100% Grenache, hand-harvested in early September, briefly macerated, and fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks. 

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 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

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.

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.

When you say Talenti, you mean Brunello – but Riccardo Talenti, grandson of the legendary Pierluigi, can also be more light-footed. His Rosso Toscana combines 80 per cent Sangiovese with 20 per cent Petit Verdot from vineyards south of Montalcino on clay-limestone soils. The Sangiovese matures for several months in oak, while the Petit Verdot brings colour, fruit and velvety volume to the cuvée. The colour in the glass is a deep ruby red with violet reflections. Ripe cherry, plum and blackberry meet a hint of spice. Smooth and surprisingly full-bodied on the palate, with round tannins and a juicy freshness on the finish – an uncomplicated Tuscan that cannot deny the signature of a great Brunello house. SUPERIORE.DE

An uncomplicated Tuscan from the organically cultivated vineyards of Castello di Radda, which are south-facing on the hills behind the winery. The cuvée of 60% Merlot and 40% Sangiovese grows on clay-rich soils with a limestone content, which gives the wine its fruity and accessible character. After manual harvesting, the wine is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with a maceration period of around ten days. The wine is matured partly in steel and partly in tonneaux, with bottling taking place in the summer after the harvest.