We check out the latest vintage of the Kirkland Signature Toscana from Costco. The 2020 vintage does not specify the blend but I imagine it is similar to the 2018 which was 75% Sangiovese, 22% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is from Tuscany, Italy. … [Read more...]
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!
Kirkland Signature Moscato d'Asti - Lovely Stuff
A deliciously sweet and bubbly Bulk Buy, we review the new Kirkland Signature Moscato d'Asti. New Kirkland Signature wine alert! And this one is for the sweet wine lovers. … [Read more...]
Lini 910 Labrusca Rosso - Get your Lambrusco On
Produced since 1910, we review a classic, dry example of the sparkling red wine Lambrusco, the Lini 910 Labrusca Rosso. 85% Salamino and 15% Ancellotta red sparkling wine from Emilia-Romagna, Italy. … [Read more...]
Attems Ramato Friuli Pinot Grigio - Unique and Delicious
Find it and try it. We review the Attems Ramato Friuli Pinot Grigio, a unique and delicious expression of Pinot Grigio made like a rosé. 100% Pinot Grigio from the Friuli DOC in Italy. … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio - Cheap and Good
The Kirkland Signature Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio from Costco, still only $4.99 and packed with flavor. This might be the best vintage yet. Pinot Grigio from Friuli Grave, Italy. … [Read more...]
INSIDER DEAL! XX% Off 92-Point Piedmont Barbera
THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER IS NOW EXPIRED! Sign up below to make sure you get the next one. Learn more about our winery direct INSIDER DEALS here. Take pizza night to the next level! Don't miss the Pomaro Monferrato Rosso Piemonte Barbera from La Bollina. We love a good … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Barolo - Big Name Little Price
Costco's take on an iconic wine rarely found under $20, we review the latest vintage of the Kirkland Signature Barolo DOCG. Plus we once again track down the true producer behind the label. Nebbiolo from Serralunga d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy. While we don't know the exact … [Read more...]
Ruggero di Bardo Anniversario Apulia Rosso Review
A $10 Southern Italian red blend from Trader Joe's, we review the Ruggero di Bardo Anniversario Apulia Rosso. An undisclosed blend from Puglia, Italy. … [Read more...]
Caldora Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Respectable
A very easy to drink example of the variety, we review the Caldora Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. 100% Montepulciano from vineyards in Chieti in the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC of Italy. The wine spends a minimum of 9 months in oak barrels before being bottled and is vegan … [Read more...]
Villanella Pinot Grigio - Fresh and Satisfying
Revisiting a highly quaffable find from Aldi, the Villanella Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio from Valdadige, Italy which covers the Trentino-Alto Adige area as well as into Veneto. It's a great spot for Pinot Grigio. … [Read more...]
Ruggero di Bardo Susumaniello - A Rare Treat
Kudos to Trader Joe's for offering an extremely rare variety from Puglia and at $10 no less! We check out the latest vintage of the Ruggero di Bardo Susumaniello. Susumaniello (yes, that's a grape variety) from Puglia, Italy. It is pronounced sue-sue-man-yell-oh. The wine … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco - $7 of Fun
A deliciously affordable bubbly bottle from Costco, the Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Prosecco sparkling wine made with the Glera grape from Asolo, Veneto, Italy. … [Read more...]
Giretto Pinot Grigio - A Sweet Tart
A tart and tasty $5.99 porch pounder from Aldi, we check out the latest vintage of the Giretto Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC. Pinot Grigio from Delle Venezie DOC, Italy. … [Read more...]
Elettra Red Blend from Aldi - Smooth and Sweet
Another sweet and tasty Italian red blend from Aldi, we review the Elettra Red Blend. A blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro from Puglia, Italy. … [Read more...]
Grifone Bianco from Trader Joe's - Light and Easy
Tasty enough for just $4.99, we review the Grifone Bianco from Trader Joe's. An unidentified white blend from Italy. The wine is made from organic grapes and is vegan friendly. … [Read more...]
Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo - Captivating
A splurge-worthy find, we review the Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc from Tuscany, Italy. … [Read more...]
Grifone Sangiovese From Trader Joe's - A Cheap Fix
Surprisingly good Sangiovese for just $4.99, we review the Grifone Sangiovese from Trader Joe's. 100% Sangiovese from Puglia, Italy. The wine is fermented in stainless steel. … [Read more...]
Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva - Super With Salami
An excellent Costco find that goes excellently with Volpi Foods Wine Salame, the Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva. 100% Sangiovese from vineyards located in Cafaggio, Conca d'Oro, Panzano in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy. The wine is aged for 18 months in 65 hl Slavonian oak … [Read more...]
Basilica Cafaggio Single Estate Chianti Classico - The Best $10 Chianti Classico?
Revisiting a favorite Costco find! The Basilica Cafaggio Single Estate Chianti Classico. 100% Sangiovese from vineyards in Panzano within the Chianti Classico zone in Tuscany, Italy. The wine is aged in Slavonian oak for 12 months. … [Read more...]
Maraia Barbera del Monferrato - Easy Elegance
Have a juicy, fruity good time with this beauty of a Barbera from Marchesi di Barolo, the Maraia Barbera del Monferrato. Available at Costco. 100% Barbera from Maranzana, Piedmont, Italy. The wine is aged for one year in Slavonian oak barrels and has 2.1 g/L of residual … [Read more...]
Zenato Alanera Rosso Veronese - Smooth, Lush and Tasty
Made from partially dried grapes, we review the latest vintage of the Zenato Alanera Rosso Veronese. 55% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from the Costalunga Estate in Veneto, Italy. 50% of the grapes used to produce the wine are … [Read more...]
Patroferno Appassimento Puglia Primitivo - A Sweet One
We review the silky smooth and sweet Patroferno Appassimento Puglia Primitivo from Trader Joe's. Primitivo from Puglia, Italy. It is made in the appassimento method using dried grapes. … [Read more...]
Campi Rudi Appassimento Rosso Puglia - Sweet and Tasty
Another nice find at Trader Joe's for just $6.99, the Campi Rudi Appassimento Rosso Puglia IGT Passito. A blend of Negroamaro, Primitivo, Nero di Troya and Sangiovese. It is made in the appassimento method using dried grapes, in this case through a secondary fermentation … [Read more...]
Tenuta Luce Lucente - Silky Smooth
Take pasta night to the next level with this super delicious Super Tuscan, the Tenuta Luce Lucente Toscana IGT. 50% Merlot and 50% Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. The wine spends 12 months in a oak barriques, 85% of which are new and it has 4 g/L of residual … [Read more...]
Tenute Rubino Oltreme Susumaniello Review
A silky smooth wine made from a little-known Italian grape, we review the Tenute Rubino Oltreme Susumaniello DOC Brindisi Rosso. The wine is made from the rare Susumaniello grape grown in vineyards in Jaddico and Brindisi, Puglia, Italy. It spends 10 months in steel tanks. … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino – True To Form
After the big changes last year, Costco keeps the (very good) status quo for the latest vintage of the Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. Check out our full review below. 100% Sangiovese from Montalcino, Italy. The wine was aged for at least 2 years in oak … [Read more...]
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