The awarded wines of 2022 competition
Etna Doc Bianco
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Etna Doc Bianco Millemetri 2016 - Feudo Cavaliere
Floral scents, citrus notes, a hint of hydrocarbons, lively acidity and marked salinity are the elements that characterize this white mountain wine. Balance and aromatic intensity are not lacking.
Feudo Cavaliere belongs to the Platania family since 1880. We are located about 1000 meters above sea level, in Santa Maria di Licodia, on the southwestern slope of Etna.
Drink now through 2028.
Starting from € 34,00
Winner
Etna Doc Bianco Superiore Primazappa 2020 - Calcagno
It offers freshness, consistency and marine notes, all typical characteristics of the territory of Milo, the only area in which Etna Bianco can boast of the mention of Superior. Vertical and incisive.
Heirs of a family tradition, the brothers Franco and Gianni Calcagno have been running their company in Passopisciaro for several years, collecting increasingly convincing results. Tradition and territory are their guidelines.
Drink now through 2030.
Starting from € 34,00
Winner
Etna Doc Bianco A’ Puddara 2020 - Tenuta di Fessina
Very fresh, sharp and mineral, this vintage is also intense as never before. It is a "living" matter that will be interesting to follow in its evolution. A high-altitude wine that never disappoints.
Tenuta di Fessina is the company created by the entrepreneur Silvia Maestrelli, pioneer among the new producers of Etna, she made a great contribution to the development of the territory.
Drink now through 2032.
Starting from € 45,00
Etna Doc Rosso
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Etna Doc Rosso Pignatuni Vecchie Vigna 2019 - Famiglia Statella
The result of an old vineyard of just 0.4 hectares, this wine is a concentrate of volcanic incisiveness, expressed through complexity and olfactory depth. Layered on the palate, it has very well-modulated tannins and an extremely long mineral trail. Only 850 bottles have been produced, but it is worth looking for it. A wine destined to become one of Etna’s icons.
Calogero Statella, winemaker of Tenuta delle Terre Nere for several years, together with his wife Rita, has recently started a production obtained from own vineyards. From the beginning, the wines have been a great success.
Drink now through 2032.
Starting from € 50,00
Winner
Etna Doc Rosso Croceferro 2020 - Generazione Alessandro
Varied bouquet with small red fruits, pepper, undergrowth and a balsamic hint, on the palate it shows an excellent combination characterized on the one hand by freshness and dynamism, and on the other hand by intensity of fruit.
Generazione Alessandro is the project of the three cousins Benedetto, Anna and Benedetto, the last generation of the Alessandro family, renowned for the wines produced in the territory of Camporeale.
Drink now through 2028.
Starting from € 21,00
Winner
Etna Doc Rosso De Aetna 2020 - Terra Costantino
A smooth red, balanced and easy to drink, characterized by red fruit notes, spices and smoky tones. Immediately pleasant, it can also evolve over the years, growing in complexity.
Terra Costantino is located in Viagrande, on the south east side of Etna. It comes from a well thought out project and even better implemented by Fabio Costantino and his father Dino. The wines combine volcanic minerality and Mediterranean richness.
Drink now through 2030.
Starting from € 20,00
Sicilian red wines from Nero d’Avola grape (Sicilia Doc and other Doc)
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Sicilia Doc Nero d’Avola Sorante 2019 - Gorghi Tondi
It is made with grapes coming from a vineyard located in the district of Ramisella in Mazara del Vallo, in the province of Trapani. It shows a warm and sunny profile with clear fruity notes ranging from ripe black cherry to plum, and enriched with a subtle spiciness. The mouthfeel, full and well structured, finds in the freshness and the harmony of the tannins its strong elements.
Gorghi Tondi is a family-led winery, today run by sisters Annamaria and Clara Sala. The vineyards are located a few steps from the sea in the territory of Mazara del Vallo, within the nature reserve Lago Preola and Gorghi Tondi.
Drink now through 2026.
Starting from € 14,50
Winner
Sicilia Doc Nero d’Avola 16 Filari 2020 - Case Alte
It is characterized by a fresh and elegant profile, typical of Nero d'Avola produced in the hills (the vineyard is located about 500 meters above sea level). Aromatic intensity and body find momentum in an orderly progression of discreet length.
Case Alte is run by Calogero Vaccaro together with his son Giuseppe. The two, heirs of a long winemaking tradition, have recently decided to start a modern company focused on quality.
Drink now through 2028.
Starting from € 18,00
Winner
Noto Doc Nero d’Avola Note Nere 2020 - Ramaddini
A red wine that well represents grape variety and territory, characterized by dark fruit notes, capers and marine scents, that seem iodized. The mouthfeel has a remarkable freshness and balance, elements that make it particularly pleasant and easy to drink.
Ramaddini is located in Marzamemi, a small town in the south-eastern part of Sicily. The production is artisanal and is mainly aimed at the enhancement of Moscato and Nero d'Avola grapes.
Drink now through 2026.
Starting from € 15,00
Sicilia Doc Grillo and Sicilia Doc Catarratto
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Sicilia Doc Grillo Mozia 2021 - Tasca d’Almerita
It is a white wine that has become a classic of Sicilian production, both for its quality and for its territorial adherence. It expresses the typical Mediterrenean citrus and floral freshness, followed by a saline and dynamic palate. It also brings with it the taste of history, being the result of a vineyard located on the island of Mozia, an ancient Phoenician colony.
Tasca d'Almerita is one of the iconic names of Sicily’s wine. The company, since its foundation, has made history and trend with its products. Drink now through 2023.
Starting from € 22,50
Winner
Sicilia Doc Grillo 2021 - Gurrieri
One of the surprises of the 4th edition of Sud Top Wine. Intense, floral, finely citrus and slightly herbaceous, it gives us a lively, relaxed and harmonious sip characterized by aromatic precision and sapidity.
We are located in Chiaramonte Gulfi in the province of Ragusa. Giovanni and Angela Gurrieri run the family winery with a great passion inherited from their parents who have done viticulture and olive growing in these lands for many years. The current production is mainly dedicated to Nero d'Avola and Frappato used in different wines, but there are other interesting wine labels.
Drink now through 2027. Starting from € 13,00
Winner
Sicilia Doc Grillo 2021 - Tonnino
It shows a varied bouquet with fruity notes in which the apple and the peach scents blend with those of exotic fruit and clear citrus notes. The palate is well balanced between freshness and softness and has a good consistency and lenght.
Tonnino is a winery of Western Sicily with its vineyards located near the border between the provinces of Trapani and Palermo in the municipalities of Alcamo, Poggioreale and Contessa Entellina. It’s organic and natural, both in the vineyard and in the cellar.
Drink now through 2026. Starting from € 16,50
Other Sicilian red wines Docg, Doc and Igt (only wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines)
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Sicilia Doc Contea di Sclafani Rosso del Conte 2017 - Tasca d’Almerita
A symbol, a historic wine produced since the Seventies that has never detached itself from the top quality, demonstrating the real value of the terroir of the island and constantly representing, thousandth after thousandth, a product capable of competing with the red wines from all over the world.
Tasca d'Almerita is one of the iconic names of Sicily’s wine. The company, since its foundation, has made history and trend with its products.
Drink now through 2032. Starting from € 45,00
Winner
Faro Doc Oblì 2019 - Tenuta Enza La Fauci
It comes from the Tyrrhenian side of the Faro DOC, an area located at the northeastern end of Sicily, within the territory of Messina. The vineyard is located on a terrace overlooking the sea, where the presence of sun and wind is constant. The wine is intense and warm with ripe fruit notes and Mediterranean scrub, while showing finesse and richness of detail.
Tenuta Enza La Fauci is a small company dedicated to high quality that, year after year, offers increasingly convincing wines.
Drink now through 2030. Starting from € 30,00
Winner
Faro Doc Chiano Conti 2015 - Tenuta Gatto
Produced with grapes from terraces located about 400 meters above sea level, it is an intense, soft, warm and enveloping red wine. It has surprised us in previous editions of Sud Top Wine, and now, let’s say it is a certainty.
A very small winery today managed by Santi Gatto, a passionate and inexhaustible winemaker. The vineyards are located on the hills of the Ionian side of the Faro DOC, in the area of Larderia, a hamlet of Messina.
Drink now through 2025. Starting from € 24,00
Other Sicilian white wines Doc and Igt (only wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines)
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Monreale Doc Catarratto Vigna di Mandranova 2020 - Alessandro di Camporeale
Carattatto Extra Lucido of a vineyard planted in 1988 at 450 meters above sea level on a mainly sandy soil. A wine that makes us understand the potential of the grape in this hilly terroir through the interesting range of aromas, structure and, above all, verticality and lenght.
A name famous throughout the world, which is the symbol of the rebirth of the territory of Camporeale, a small town in the hinterland of Palermo. The company, today managed by two generations of the Alessandro family, has recorded great successes in a few years and this trend doesn't seem to want to stop.
Drink now through 2029. Starting from € 17.50
Winner
Terre Siciliane Igp Zibibbo Abir 2021 - Possente
A white wine obtained from an aromatic grape variety that combines the persuasiveness of a floral and Mediterranean bouquet followed by an intense sip characterized by an unexpected freshness and pleasantness.
A family winery devoted to organic and artisanal production. It is run by Maria Possente together with her brother Antonio and her sister Stefania. The vineyards are located in the eastern part of the province of Trapani in two different sites, in Alcamo and Salaparuta.
Drink now though 2025. Starting from € 15,00
Winner
Terre Siciliane Igt Bianco Incanto 2020 - Tenuta Enza La Fauci
It is the result of very small plots cultivated with Grecanico grapes in the western end of the northern slope of Etna, at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,200 meters above sea level. It distinguishes by the precise definition of floral, fruity and balsamic scents, then showing to the palate balanced texture, flavor and length.
Tenuta Enza La Fauci is a small company dedicated to high quality that, year after year, offers increasingly convincing wines.
Drink now through 2029. Starting from € 23,00
Taurasi Docg
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Taurasi Docg Alta Valle 2017 - Colli di Castelfranci
In the foothills of the Picentini Mountains, in Contrada Braudiano, grow the thirty-year-old vines of Aglianico used for the Taurasi DOCG Alta Valle, characterized by an olfactory stratification that goes from violet to tobacco notes. The mouthfeel is material and the tannic component, dense and not intrusive, is supported by a good dose of acidity.
The union of the two families Colucci and Gregorio gives birth, in the small hilltop village of Castelfranci, to the young winery of Colli di Castelfranci. In a careful and wide look, on an area of about 25 hectares of vineyards, are cultivated the main native grape varieties of Campania, such as Aglianico, Fiano, Greco di Tufo and Falanghina.
Drink now through 2030. Starting from € 27,00
Winner
Taurasi Docg Sant’Eustachio 2017 - Boccella
Greedy and intriguing on the nose with red fruits notes and then spicy and balsamic scents. From Aglianico grape with a graceful structure, it is agile and reactive thanks to a lively acidity and a dense tannic texture, but well integrated, where everything bodes for a long evolution in the bottle.
Boccella is a family business located in Castelfranci in the province of Avellino, within the production area of Taurasi DOCG. They work in organic and the approach, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is artisanal.
Drink now trhough 2033. Starting from € 35,00
Winner
Taurasi Docg Riserva Scorzagalline 2015 - Fonzone
The perfume opens in a variety of fruits, including blueberries and blackberries, and then, on sensations of incense and light smokes. The palate, which shows itself in perfect harmony with the olfactory perceptions, is soft and velvety, but supported by a lively acidity and sapidity.
An innovative winery with the desire to produce quality wines that could, however, respond to the needs of the general public. Fonzone has succeeded in this great enterprise with increasingly territorial wines, bringing Irpinia outside its national borders.
Drink now through 2030. Starting from € 34,00
Greco di Tufo Docg
1° Place
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Winner
1° Place
Greco di Tufo Docg Riserva Vigna Laure 2020 - Cantine Di Marzo
From a single vineyard located in Tufo, in the hamlet of San Paolo, only the flower must is vinified which then rests on the fine lees for 9 months, to give a greater olfactory complexity expressed on iodine and flint notes, and then in the freshness of herbaceous, thyme and Mediterranean scrub notes. And that same complexity also gives a greater structure on the palate with a long and persistent finish.
It’s the historic company of the appellation, officially born in 1833, but with roots far beyond. Legend has it that it was Scipione Di Marzo in 1647 who brought the Greek grape to Tufo.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 19,50
Winner
Greco di Tufo Docg Riserva Vallicelli 2020 - Colli di Castelfranci
A reserve from Greco di Tufo that ferments half in steel tanks and half in wood. The smell is almost material, earthy and then straw, without missing a lightness given by the lively radiance of which the glass is filled in a long acidic-sapid attack perfectly maintained during the whole tasting.
The union of the two families Colucci and Gregorio gives birth, in the small hilltop village of Castelfranci, to the young winery of Colli di Castelfranci. In a careful and wide look, on an area of about 25 hectares of vineyards, are cultivated the main native grape varieties of Campania, such as Aglianico, Fiano, Greco di Tufo and Falanghina.
Drink now through 2030. Starting from € 16,00
Winner
Greco di Tufo Docg Riserva Grancare 2020 - Tenuta Cavalier Pepe
The Riserva Grancare is produced from a selection of the best grapes of the vineyards located in the highest area of the municipalities of Torrioni and Montefusco. The vinification and maturation in wood give ripe fruity notes, from peach to tropical fruit, enriched with light toasted notes, in a balanced and long-lasting taste.
Historic estate of Irpinia that has given prestige and value to the territory of Campania, making it known to the world. Thanks to Angelo Pepe, whose foresight was well appreciated in 1998 by the President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, who appointed him "Knight of the Republic" for his work merits. Today Milena, from the second generation, continues producing high-quality wines with 60 hectares located among the main production areas of Irpinia.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 21,50
Fiano di Avellino Docg
1° Place
Winner
Winner
1° Place
Fiano di Avellino Docg Riserva Alessandra 2013 - Di Meo
A Fiano Riserva that comes on the market after nine years of aging and that knows how to give the best of itself in the afternasal, with peach, apricot and candied ginger notes, in a long taste characterized by a soft sip played on peaks of sapidity.
The winery of the brothers Roberto and Generoso di Meo is a landmark in Irpinia. The wines are at the top of the production of all three DOCG of the territory.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 43,00
Winner
Fiano di Avellino Docg 2020 - Guido Marsella
It’s that savoury-mineral combination that makes this wine compelling. You can find it on the nose, between iodized, brackish and white flowers notes and even more in a dynamic sip that scratches the palate between savoury and lashed acid scents. All elements then give way to an already announced taste-olfactory persistence.
Since 1995 Guido Marsella produces Fiano di Avellino in Summonte, in one of the most prestigious areas of the DOCG. The wise interpretation of the terroir and the choice of long ageing are the basis of the unique character of the wines.
Drink now through 2033. Starting from € 23,50
Winner
Fiano di Avellino Docg Alimata 2018 - Villa Raiano
The attention towards the plot vinification, as in Alimata, a single vineyard located in the municipality of Montefredane, is expressed with saline vigor. The dried fruit aromas and mineral notes are followed by a soft, fresh and distinctly savoury palate.
The Basso family is a more than a consolidated Irpinia reality, also thanks to the meticulous work of the enologist Sebastiano Fortunato. Today the management is entrusted to the second generation, represented by Brunella and Federico who pursue with foresight in business without ever losing sight of authentic traits of pure craftsmanship.
Drink now through 2031. Starting from € 20,00
White wines of Campania from Falanghina grape
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Campi Flegrei Dop Falanghina Cruna Delago 2021 - La Sibilla
The vineyard looks straight towards Lake Fusaro and, like an exact transposition of its territory, the glass smells first of white flowers, then of the salinity of the sea and finally of white fruits. On the palate it, again, recalls marine and iodine notes on a vegetable background that gives a disarming sip.
In Greek and Roman mythology the Sibylla was a virgin endowed with divinatory powers given by Apollo. In the area of the Phlegraean Fields today that suggestion seems to express itself also through the products of the earth, which seem to be endowed with a living glow. Like the wines produced by the di Meo family who, for five generations, has cultivated Falanghina, Piedirosso and other minor indigenous grape varieties, overlooking the hills of Baia.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 25,50
Winner
Campi Flegrei Dop Falanghina Vigna Astroni 2018 - Cantine Astroni
It is a Falanghina grape of phlegraean biotype that conquers the nose for the olfactory stratification that is fully legible and made of white flowers, lavender, aromatic herbs and saline notes. A wine of surprising agility, reactive and dynamic in drinking.
Cantine Astroni is located on the outer slopes of the crater of Astroni, a unique place, which is now a WWF natural reserve, located between Naples and Pozzuoli in the area of Campi Flegrei. The production philosophy is focused on the enhancement of the territory through the Falanghina and Piedirosso native vines.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 25,00
Winner
Campi Flegrei Dop Falanghina Luce Flegrea 2021 - Cantine del Mare
A wine that comes from grapes, but also from the sea and the wind as well as from a volcanic land like the Campi Flegrei one. On the nose it recalls wild herbs, just wet leaves and stone fruits notes. A refreshing summer sip, in a wonderful taste-olfactory balance.
The company of Gennaro Schiano is a viewpoint overlooking the Mount of Procida with old vineyards that have their roots in the ground of Campi Flegrei: vivid and quiet atmosphere given by almost constant exposure of the sun and an almost mixed ventilation characterized by iodine on one hand and sulfur on the other one.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 18,00
Other Campanian red wines Docg, Doc and Igt (only wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines)
1° Place
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Terre del Volturno Igp Pallagrello Nero Tralice 2019 - Il Casolare Divino
Direct and clear wine on the nose, with immediately perceivable peonies and smoky hints, in a stretch, above all, of red fruit such as currant and cherries. The mouthfeel is distinguished by its dense, but perfectly integrated tannic texture and by the acid-sapid component that gives a quite persistent sip.
It’s from a family adventure of two brothers, Raffaele and Bonaventura Tralice that Il Casolare Divino develops its first steps. The challenge is to restore new prestige to native vines forgotten in those lands of Alto Casertano. And in Alvignano, in the two-a-half hectares surrounding the estate, Pallagrello Nero finds its innate vocation.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 15,00
Winner
Irpinia Doc Aglianico 2019 - Antica Hirpinia
An intense ruby red color that anticipate a richly fruity and floral nose in which there are intriguing slightly spicy sweet notes. A rich and soft sip revives with a verticality given by a good dose of freshness on the finish.
There is a real piece of Irpinia history in this winery, to which goes the merit of having produced the first bottle of Taurasi Docg. From the far 1992 followed amazing years for the appellation and for the winery itself, which was a cooperative until, in 2006, it was taken over by a group of young winemakers united by the passion and enthusiasm to produce quality wines.
Drink now through 2028. Starting from € 13,00
Winner
Paestum Igp Rosso Mèrcori 2017 - Francesca Fiasco
From a blend of Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Aglianico, Sangiovese and Barbera grapes, all coming from a single vineyard, comes Mèrcori that ages two years in tonneaux. It smells of violets, blue flowers, myrtle and wild herbs. Powerful and peremptory with well-present tannins, but also fine on the palate.
A young woman runs the winery, but the roots stem from the past. When during the sixties her grandparents transmitted to her all the love for the Cilento that today Francesca pours into her wines, the result of a careful and meticulous management of six hectares of vineyards located in the heart of the Cilento National Park, in Felitto.
Drink now though 2026. Starting from € 55,00
Other Campanian white wines Doc and Igt (only wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines)
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Paestum Igp Greco Elea 2019 - San Salvatore 1988
It’s a Greco vinified mainly in steel and 10 percent in French oak barriques. Enough to give a greater aromatic complexity of which this grape already naturally consists. Voluptuous and structured on the palate that does not lack agility thanks to a good acid-sapid boost.
To this company goes the merit of having given new prestige to the wine tradition of Paestum and Cilento. Today, it is also at the top of the international markets with wines increasingly appreciated by the widest audience of wine lovers and critics of the sector.
Drink now through 2026. Starting from € 23,50
Winner
Cilento doc Fiano Licosa 2021 - Il Colle del Corsicano
The nose shows intense tropical fruit notes, together with special saline scents. The mouthfeel is well-tempered and gives good palate pleasantness without lacking agility peaks in a balanced and persistent finish.
There are four generations that precede that of Alferio Romito who now runs the winery. A story of family, but also of passion inherent in each of them. And Alferio, after studying enology, is now in the forefront of the 10 hectares mainly planted to Aglianico, Primitivo and Fiano grapes.
Drink now through 2026. Starting from € 16,50
Winner
Irpinia Doc Fiano 2021 - Il Cortiglio
From a vineyard in organic production a 100% Fiano that gives vitality and lightness of smell thanks to vegetable and white as well as yellow fruit flavors. In the mouth it is agile, but also soft, enveloping and characterized by a distinct and persistent citrus note.
The winery, located at 480 meters above sea level, is in Fontanarosa, a small medieval village in the heart of Irpinia. Here, Francesco Acampora and his wife Nadijara care with devotion the vineyards of Aglianico, Falanghina and Fiano grapes, returning in the wine the essence of the territory of origin.
Drink now through 2026. Starting from € 16,00
Cirò Doc Rosso
1° Place
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Cirò Doc Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva Colli del Mancuso 2019 - Ippolito 1845
A single vineyard wine from Gaglioppo, the most ancient and noble grape variety of Calabria, cultivated in the Mancuso estate, in the heart of the Cirò area. It is a riot of scents that explodes between cherry, blackberries, and ripe fruit, followed by blue and purple flowers. The same that leave space to a soft and enveloping sip, with a dense but perfectly integrated tannic texture, in a taste of absolute flavor persistence. Ippolito is a winery with over 170 years of history that, since 1845, has always been managed by the same family. Drink from now until 2028. Starting from € 15,00
Winner
Cirò Doc Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva Volvito 2019 - Caparra & Siciliani
It is one of Caparra & Siciliani's most famous reserves. Aged in small Allier oak barrels. It is rich, rounded, full-bodied and intensely spicy with a profile that embodies both local traditions and a modern taste that prefers soft and complete reds. Founded in 1963, Caparra & Siciliani is today one of the most important wineries in Calabria. The production philosophy is based on the combination of tradition and innovation. Drink from now until 2027. Starting from €11.50
Winner
Cirò Doc Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva Maradea 2019 - Tenuta Iuzzolini
Produced from Gaglioppo grapes belonging to the Timpa Bianca vineyards in Cirò Marina, it ages for 8-10 months in Calabrian chestnut barriques. It smells of red fruit, tobacco and sweet spices. It is full, correctly structured and vigorous with robust and well-rounded tannins. It is a winery placed in Cirò Marina that can count on a large estate, around 500 hectares of which 100 are vineyards, 50 olive groves and 100 arable land. The range of wines is extensive with around fifteen labels. Drink from now until 2027. Starting from €16.50
Calabrian red wines Doc and Igt (only wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines)
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Lamezia Doc Riserva Batasarro 2017 - Statti
It is a pure Gaglioppo that ages in oak barrels for 18 months. It offers an intense bouquet with dark tones, in which we distinguish sour cherry, plum and currant, surrounded by a varied spiciness. In the mouth it is dense, balanced, rich in taste, but also fresh thanks to its excellent acidity. Persistence is remarkable. Statti is located in Lamezia Terme, a municipality on the Tyrrhenian coast of Catanzaro province. It belongs to a historic local family, awarded the baronial title in the 17th century. The wines, produced from native vines and international varieties, are increasingly convincing year after year. Drink from now until 2027. Starting from €21.00
Winner
Calabria Igt Rosso Limàni 2018 - Cantine Artese
Obtained from 100% Magliocco Canino, it is aged partly in steel and partly in wood. It is a wine that smells of red fruit with a touch of spices, giving a decisive, enveloping, structured and satisfying sip. Cantine Artese is a winery placed in Vibo Valentia. It was founded in 2009, thanks to the experience of three generations of winemakers. The goal is to produce wines that tell the characteristics of this strip of coast washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Drink from now until 2025. Starting from €11.50
Winner
Calabria Igp Magliocco Fervore 2017 - Terre di Balbia
The grapes, 100% sweet Magliocco, come from organically grown vineyards on soil composed mainly of red clay. It matures for 12 months in wooden barrels and then ages in the bottle for a long period (about 36 months). It should be savored slowly to appreciate all its nuances. An original red that will not disappoint you. Terre di Balbia is located in Altomonte, a small Calabrian town in the northern part of Cosenza province. The current management represents a new direction for the winery. Organic farming, knowledge of the vine and attention to details are the cornerstones of the production philosophy. Drink from now until 2025. Starting from €22.00
Calabrian white wines Doc and Igt (only wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines)
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Cirò Doc Bianco San Francesco 2021 - Fattoria San Francesco
Winner
Calabria Igt Essenzo 2020 - Brigante
Winner
Cirò Dop Bianco 2021 - Francesco Malena
Aglianico del Vulture Doc and Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Docg
1° Place
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Winner
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Aglianico del Vulture Doc Titolo 2020 - Elena Fucci
Winner
Aglianico del Vulture Dop Terre di Orazio 2019 - Cantina di Venosa
Winner
Aglianico del Vulture Doc Massaròn 2017 - Tenuta Lagala
Apulian red Wines from Primitivo grape
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Primitivo di Manduria Doc Riserva Elegia 2019 - Produttori di Manduria
This red, probably the best known of the winery, is able to express an uncommon quality for its price range, deserving comparison with definitely more expensive Primitivo-based wines. It ages for 12 months in French oak barriques. Hints of fruit jam, nutmeg and cloves precede a structured and enveloping sip with a truly long persistence. Founded in 1932 by the will of a small group of winemakers, Produttori di Manduria is a cooperative winery that today can count on 400 members and over 900 hectares of vineyards. The level of production is excellent, especially for the Primitivo-based red wines that receive acclaim everywhere. Drink from now until 2027. Starting from €17.00
Winner
Primitivo Salento Igp 2020 - Cantina Terribile
Pure Primitivo from bush-trained vineyards, it ages for 10 months in new American and French oak barriques. It is a powerful wine, both in the aromas of ripe fruit and sweet spices and on the palate, where a full body, but also the right acidity and good balance are evident. This small winery, founded in 2014 and run with great passion by Giusi Terribile, owns vineyards in the Manduria area, whereas the cellar is located in San Donaci in the province of Brindisi. The wines are convincing in their character and territoriality. Drink from now until 2029. Starting from €28.00
Winner
Gioia del Colle Doc Primitivo Chakra 2020 - Giovanni Aiello
It ages in second and third passage barriques and tonneaux. A successful combination of matter, aromatic intensity and momentum, it is the quintessence of Primitivo di Gioia del Colle, a type that has been providing truly interesting results in recent years. A wine that absolutely must be tasted in order to fully grasp its every nuance. The full name that we read on the bottles, "Giovanni Aiello Enologist for Love", immediately makes us understand the passion and attachment to his land of the owner of this winery located in the Gioia del Colle DOC area. The particular terroir characterized by a karst soil and the sensitivity of the producer give us wines with an identity. Drink from now until 2030. Starting from €23.00
Apulian red Wines from Negroamaro grape
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Salento Igp Negroamaro Le Braci 2016 - Garofano
Le Braci is one of the most important red wines in the region. It is made with overripe, almost dried grapes, that are the fruit of vineyards trained as Apulian saplings in the Copertino countryside. It ages in French barriques for at least 12 months. Just one sentence is enough to describe it: "it is the synthesis of the depth that can be obtained from Negroamaro". This winery was founded by Severino Garofano, a winemaker who is part of the wine history of Puglia, having been the "father" of many of the most renowned wines in the region. Today his sons produce great reds and rosés, especially from Negroamaro. Drink from now until 2030. Starting from €45.00
Winner
Salento Igp Negroamaro Kalema 2018 - Fabiana
From grapes grown in the Faggiano area in the province of Taranto, it ages in oak tonneau for about 6 months. It has a nose of ripe sour cherry and blackberry, followed by a varied spiciness and a floral hint. When tasted, it reveals a strong character that shows itself through the vigor of a full-bodied, velvety and very long sip. Fabiana is located in San Giorgio Jonico, a municipality in the province of Taranto not far from the chief town and the Ionian coast. In the 30 hectares of vineyards, native vines are grown with the utmost respect for nature, concentrating every effort on obtaining the best possible grapes. . Drink from now until 2026. Starting from €15.00
Winner
Salento Igp Negroamaro Torre del Serpente 2020 - Montemajor
Its name is inspired by the Grotta del Serpente, one of the most evocative areas of the Salento coast. Aged in steel, it shows all the richness and brightness of the places of origin with a ripe and crunchy fruit and a soft and full taste. This winery produces different lines of wines from regions of southern Italy: Campania, Puglia, Calabria and Sicily. The main office is in the province of Avellino, in the municipalities of Grottaminarda and Paternopoli. Drink from now until 2026. Starting from €10.00
Other Apulian red wines (only wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines)
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Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva Docg Vigna Pedale 2016 - Torrevento
t was the first pure Nero di Troia bottled in the world with the 1992 vintage. It ages for 8 months in steel and further 12 months in large barrels. It has a fine and intense bouquet of ripe red fruit and spices that shows increasingly greater complexity over time. The sip is as full and powerful as it is harmonious and precise in texture. The aging potential is remarkable. Torrevento is a large winery located at the foot of Castel del Monte (a UNESCO heritage site since 1996), in the heart of the Alta Murgia National Park. Today it manages over 500 hectares of vineyards in Puglia and is best known for having re-evaluated Nero di Troia, a variety with which it has achieved great results. Drink from now until 2030. Starting from €13.00
Winner
Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva Docg Il Falcone 2016 - Rivera
It is made with 70% Nero di Troia grapes plus 30% Montepulciano. It is aged for 14 months, half in French oak barriques and half in 30 hl barrels. It is an iconic red that has represented the tradition and peculiarities of the Castel del Monte area since 1950. The 2016 vintage combines its strong character with great balance, giving an incisive and, at the same time, elegant version. The winery, founded in the late 1940s by Sebastiano De Corato on the family estate, has been able to valorize the most of the Castel del Monte area with the production of complex wines able of evolving over the years. It has always been among the best wineries in Puglia. Drink from now until 2029. Starting from €16.00
Winner
Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva Docg Ottagono 2014 - Torrevento
It ages for 8 months in concrete and then matures in large oak barrels for further 12 months. Compared to the other great Nero di Troia belonging to the same winery, the Vigna Pedale, it has darker tones, especially in its fruity part and a generally sweeter palate with a greater volume. It will evolve over several years. Torrevento is a large winery located at the foot of Castel del Monte (a UNESCO heritage site since 1996), in the heart of the Alta Murgia National Park. Today it manages over 500 hectares of vineyards in Puglia and is best known for having re-evaluated Nero di Troia, a variety with which it has achieved great results. Drink from now until 2028. Starting from €18.00
Sardinian white wines from Vermentino grapes
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Vermentino di Sardegna Doc Su’imari 2021 - Su’entu
A very-well-made white wine that expresses all the freshness of Vermentino with yellow-pulp fruit, flowers and fine citrus hints. Aromas that return to the palate in an agile, slender and highly drinkable sip. Mediterranean pleasure. Su'entu means "the wind", a name that takes us back to the Sanluri area, where the winery is based. The place is in Marmilla, a sub-region of central-southern Sardinia. Since 2012, the year of the first harvest, growth has been constant. Drink from now until 2025. Starting from €12.00
Winner
Vermentino di Sardegna Doc Opale 2021 - Mesa
Fine on the nose with hints of ripe fruit, especially yellow-pulp, combined with marine and Mediterranean recalls. In the mouth it is enveloping, but also dynamic and long thanks to the evident flavor. Mesa is a winery in Sulcis, an area that corresponds to the extreme south west of Sardinia. Born with an ambitious project, today it has reached high quality levels with its wines, both red (especially from Carignano) and white (from Vermentino). Drink from now until 2026. Starting from €22.00
Winner
Vermentino di Gallura Docg Superiore Serenata 2021 - Silvio Carta
It shows the aromatic strength typical for Vermentino white wines produced in Gallura. Clear and intense aromas, full flavor and good structure make it incisive and suitable for several pairings. Founded in the early 1950s in the province of Oristano, Silvio Carta specialized in the production of Vernaccia di Oristano and today of other wines from different areas of Sardinia. Furthermore, it is present on the market with a wide range of liqueurs and spirits. Drink from now until 2026. Starting from €14.00
Sardinian red wines from Cannonau grapes
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Cannonau di Sardegna Doc Vignaruja 2019 - Cantina di Mogoro
Harmony and cleanliness of the intense floral aromas, accompanied by small fruits and aromatic herbs, characterize the nose of this Cannonau. It is soft, with full taste and persistent. Never excessive, its winning weapon is balance. This cooperative winery in Mogoro in the province of Oristano was founded in 1956 on the initiative of a small group of winemakers. It currently manages 250 hectares of vineyards, where the main native Sardinian vines are grown. Drink from now until 2027. Starting from €11.50
Winner
Cannonau di Sardegna Doc Riserva Carnevale 2019 - Giuseppe Sedilesu
The only Sedilesu red wine aged in barrique, a Reserve created with the aim of offering a slightly more international style, without, however, moving away from the characteristics of the terroir. It is complete, starting from the aromas of morello cherries and spices through taste and structure, with velvety tannins and remarkable persistence. Giuseppe Sedilesu is one of the top wineries in Mamoiada, a small town in the heart of Barbagia where red wines from Cannonau are produced, consistently ranking at the highest levels of regional production. Pursuing the goal of combining tradition, territory and elegance, enormous progress has been made in recent years. Drink from now until 2030. Starting from €30.00
Winner
Cannonau di Sardegna Doc Su’anima 2020 - Su’entu
An easy-to-approach version of Cannonau, far from materiality and power, that focuses on the immediacy of the aromas of flowers and red fruits and on the balance between freshness and softness, resulting satisfying, without ever being demanding. Su'entu means "the wind", a name that takes us back to the Sanluri area, where the winery is based. The place is in Marmilla, a sub-region of central-southern Sardinia. Since 2012, the year of the first harvest, growth has been constant. Drink from now until 2027. Starting from €12.00
Rosé wines (all the wines produced with native grape varieties, even blended wines, of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily)
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Etna Doc Rosato Millemetri 2017 - Feudo Cavaliere
Produced 100% with Nerello Mascalese, it ages for a long time in bottle and is released on the market much later (some years) than other Etna wines of the type. It shows an unexpected freshness, aromatic precision and energetic savory boost. It can still go on over time. Great.
Feudo Cavaliere belongs to the Platania family since 1880. They are located about 1000 meters above sea level, in Santa Maria di Licodia, on the southwestern slope of Etna.
Drink now through 2026. Starting from € 25,00
Winner
Salento Igp Negroamaro Girofle 2021 - Garofano
A nose in which floral notes combine harmoniously with fragrant red fruits hints; it is the prelude to a lively, rich and slightly savory palate. Refreshing and rewarding.
Winery founded by Severino Garofano, a winemaker who is part of the Apulian wine history, having been the "father" of many of the most renowned wines of the region. Today his sons produce great red and rosé wines, especially from Negroamaro.
Drink now through 2023. Starting from € 10,00
Winner
Puglia Igp Rosato Nero di Troia Bisciù 2021 - Mandwinery
It offers a very intense bouquet with cherry and red currant that are enriched with a floral touch. It is fresh but also characterized by a good softness. Definitely fruity on the palate.
Mandwinery is located in Cerignola, a town in the province of Foggia located in the Ofanto Valley. It was born with the aim of telling the territory through faithful expressions of native vines such as Nero di Troia.
Drink now through 2024. Starting from € 12,00
Sparkling wines (Traditional Method or Charmat Method of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily)
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Etna Doc spumante Saxanigra Brut 2017 - Destro
Made from Nerello Mascalese grapes vinified in white, it ages on the lees for at least 36 months. Cedar and hawthorn scents precede a sip that expresses a successful combination of creaminess and sapidity. Very pleasant.
The Destro Pastizzaro family cultivates its vineyards on the north side of Etna in the Montelaguardia district, within the territory of Randazzo. The production is increasingly directed towards Metodo Classico sparkling wines, a type on which the winery is firmly focusing.
Drink now through 2023. Starting from € 23,00
Winner
Spumante Metodo Classico Pas Dosè Edmond Dantes - Felline
It is made 80% from Vermentino grapes and 20% from Chardonnay grapes. A small production only bottled in magnum. It is a fresh sparkling wine with a well-calibrated structure that impresses with its balance and subtle softness.
Felline is one of the most famous names of Salento. The company has played a very important role in the wine development of the territory of Manduria and the surrounding areas through the revival of native vines, first of all Primitivo.
Drink now through 2027. Starting from € 60,00 (magnum)
Winner
Etna Doc Spumante Sosta Tre Santi Brut 2018 - Nicosia
It is produced with Nerello Mascalese grapes, ageing about 30 months on the lees. It offers a bouquet of floral and citrus scents, with delicate bread crust notes. Fresh, intense, dynamic and mineral on the palate.
Nicosia is one of the historical companies of Etna. In recent years it has invested a lot in the sparkling wine production, carrying out an ambitious project that is starting to give interesting results.
Drink now through 2024. Starting from € 24,00
Jury 2022
Stephen Brook
Decanter
Robert Camuto
Wine Spectator
Daniele Cernilli
Doctor Wine
Andreia Debon
Bon Vivant
Federico Latteri
Cronache di Gusto