wines

Salice Salentino is one of the oldest denominazioni in Apulia, recognised in 1976, and is still synonymous with the power of Negroamaro today. The Conti Zecca family, based in Leverano since 1580, cultivate the Tenuta Cantalupi here with its calcareous, iron oxide-rich soils. For the Riserva, 80% Negroamaro and 20% Malvasia Nera are matured in wooden barrels. Deep ruby red in the glass with the first garnet reflections. The bouquet opens with red berries, cloves and a hint of forest floor. Soft and harmonious on the palate, with a dense body, well-integrated tannins and a warm, lingering final. Classic Salice Salentino in its most mature form – structured, but never heavy. SUPERIORE.DE

Sardinia's great red wine grape in an elegant interpretation: as a rosato, Cannonau shows a surprisingly delicate side, which the renowned Argiolas winery masterfully stages. The hand-picked grapes from the sun-drenched vineyards around Serdiana grow on clay and limestone soils, which give the wine its characteristic minerality. A short maceration period extracts just enough colour and structure for a delicate salmon pink with silver reflections. The nose combines juicy red berries – strawberry, raspberry – with floral notes and a hint of Mediterranean scrub. The palate is surprisingly full-bodied, with lively acidity and a subtly spicy finish typical of Cannonau. Perfect with grilled seafood, pasta with light sauces or Sardinian cream cheese. SUPERIORE.DE

Pale straw yellow in colour. Jasmine and lavender on the nose, a fine note of nutmeg and elderberry and a hint of apple and lemon. Precise, dry and fresh on the palate, with good acidity, flanked by citrus notes and the flavour of light peaches and green apple. This is how piquant and aromatic Sicily tastes, expressive and mineral-fresh! SUPERIORE.DE

This characterful Müller Thurgau, which embodies the cool elegance of South Tyrol's north-easternmost growing region, comes from the high vineyards at the beginning of the Eisack Valley and on the Ritten at an altitude of 600-700 metres. The Isarco Valley, where sunny, warm days follow cool alpine nights, offers ideal conditions for this sophisticated cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royale with its mineral-rich, sandy and gravelly soils. The grape variety, named after the Swiss botanist Hermann Müller from Thurgau, finds the best conditions here on warm hillside terraces with a delicate soil structure. The harsher climate with increasing altitude and the marked differences in temperature give the wine the freshness and variety of flavours that make it so popular.

The sub-alpine microclimate between Bolzano and the Ritten gives this Pinot Gris its unmistakable personality. Warm alluvial and gravel soils form the foundation for a wine that combines Burgundian tradition with Alpine freshness. During vinification, cellar master Stephan Filippi deliberately favours gentle pressing and temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel – a concept that perfectly preserves the natural fruitiness. Bright straw yellow with golden nuances, the 2024 reveals a multi-layered bouquet of ripe pears and apples, accompanied by subtle honey and nutty flavours. Its full-bodied nature and extract-rich character make it the perfect partner for mushroom risottos or traditional Schlutzkrapfen. A Pinot Gris with South Tyrolean soul and international stature. SUPERIORE.DE

Merì – symbolising the evening sky in the Sardinian dialect – is a Vermentino that unfolds pure, Mediterranean elegance in the glass. The grapes come from the calcareous hills around Selegas, which are blown by the wind from the Gulf of Palmas. After being harvested by hand, the grapes are cooled in the vineyard to preserve the typical varietal flavour. The wine is fermented and matured exclusively in stainless steel tanks, with precision, clarity and a focus on freshness.

Zenato has stood for reliable quality from the Veneto region since 1960 – no experiments, but solid craftsmanship over generations. The home of this Valpolicella Superiore is the gentle vineyards in the soft hills of Valpolicella Classica, in the heart of Sant'Ambrogio. Corvina Veronese forms the backbone with 85 per cent, supplemented by Rondinella and Corvinone from the 35 hectares of own vineyards. The grapes are harvested by hand in October, de-stemmed and macerated in stainless steel for ten days before the wine matures for twelve months in large oak barrels.

Some decisions are radical in their simplicity. Gianluigi Bergaglio has been producing exactly two wines since 1970 – both from 100% Cortese, both from his own 17 hectares in the Rovereto fraction, both exclusively in steel. No barriques, no second grape variety, no distractions. The vineyards lie at 300 metres in the hills south of Gavi, on characteristic red clay with a high iron content – a soil that gives the Cortese minerality and structure not found in other parts of the appellation. Ligurian breezes from the south cool the slopes and maintain freshness. Guyot cultivation, no extreme yield reductions, but care in the vineyard and cellar.

Over a century of French tradition finds its South Tyrolean continuation in the warm altitudes between 350 and 500 metres around Bolzano. This Chardonnay comes from dry slopes and is not harvested until the end of October, allowing it to develop its characteristic ripeness. The controlled temperature control during fermentation and pure steel tank ageing preserve the natural elegance of the grape variety and emphasise its exotic expressiveness. Light straw yellow in colour with golden hues. Pineapple, mango and honeydew melon on the nose. The well-integrated acidity gives the wine its lively structure, while a pleasant fullness ensures a harmonious drinking flow. A versatile companion that shows its class both as an aperitif and with fish dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

A Nero d'Avola with southern warmth and fine depth: Gazzerotta presents itself with a clear presence and elegant expression. The wine comes from sunny vineyards around Mazara del Vallo, characterised by clayey and chalky soil, which gives it a juicy fruit and earthy minerality. Intense ruby red in colour. The aromas intertwine ripe berries, cherry and plum with a seductive spicy note, tamed by floral traces of violets and a hint of honey. Soft, warm and round on the palate. Balanced tannins, juicy fruit and a lingering spicy finish round off the profile. Medium-bodied and well-balanced, ideal with pasta al forno or spicy ragouts. SUPERIORE.DE

The name reveals the grape variety, the origin and the claim in one word. Since 1989 – the first vintage – the Grecante Caprais has been the white flagship: 100% Grechetto, from the Colli Martani, the gentle hills south-east of Montefalco, where calcareous soils give the Grechetto its characteristic minerality. Three months in steel, then bottled. No wood, no distractions. The result landed in Wine Spectator's Top100 with the 2016 vintage – an honour that is anything but a matter of course for a single-varietal Umbrian white wine.