The Best Italian Wines

Italian wine can be confusing, but this is what happens when wine has been made in a place for hundreds and hundreds of years! Just don't let the confusion stop you from exploring the many fascinating regions and wines of Italy, it is one of our very favorite spots for great value wines (as well as a few of our favorites over $20, or "Saturday Splurges" as we like to call them).

Sangiovese is one of the major grapes in Italy, being the backbone of such renowned Italian wines as Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino as well as many Super Tuscans. With its distinctive cherry and often rustic flavors, this medium-bodied, savory variety takes to oak aging very well. And just as you would expect it's fantastic with all kinds of Italian foods including pizza and pretty much anything in tomato-based sauces. (See our Guide To The Best Pizza Wines for more on this.)

Chianti is also a great example of just how confusing Italian wine can be. With 8 different sub-zones, varying rules on production, a classification called Superiore that can be used in 7 of the 8 zones, and a number of wines that could be labeled either as Chianti or things like Brunello di Montalcino or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, it's no wonder consumers are confused. I guess this is what happens where your wine region has been around since the early 1700s -- 300 years later there are a lot of rules! (For more on this see our dedicated Guide To Chianti Wines.)

A few of the often-overlooked areas in Italy; however, may give the best value.

Click here to get a printable shopping list of the best wines from Italy!

Alto Adige in the northern part of the country offers fascinating and affordable red and white wines.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea likewise offers tremendous value in varieties like Nero d'Avola that you generally don’t find anywhere else.

Puglia, which extends onto the heel of the boot of Italy is renowned for their Primitivo and Salice Salento wines made from Negroamaro.

On the other side of Italy's boot (the shin) is Campania, home to one of our very favorite varieties - Aglianico.

Of course, we'll also offer some tried and true favorites from places like Tuscany and beyond and even the occasional Amarone and Barolo splurge. And if you really want to keep it cheap you can check our dedicated list of $8 Italian Reds - all delicious and $8 or less.

Read on for our list of The Best Italian Wine, Mostly Under $20!