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...]
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!
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...]
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...]
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...]
Cecilia Beretta Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore from Trader Joe's
We review the Cecilia Beretta Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore from Pasqua Wines, available at Trader Joe's for $12. A traditional Valpolicella red blend of 60% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone and 10% Negrara from Valpantena, Veneto, Italy. … [Read more...]
Le Palaie Gatta Ci Cova Terre di Pisa Rosso Review
A simple but pleasing blend of Sangiovese and Merlot from Tuscany, Italy. We review Le Palaie Gatta Ci Cova Terre di Pisa Rosso. A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot from the relatively new appellation of Terre di Pisa in Tuscany, Italy. The wine is aged in stainless steel … [Read more...]
Tinazzi Opera No. 3 Red Blend – Hot Stuff!
A very tasty and unique red blend in the world's heaviest bottle, we review the latest vintage of the Tinazzi No 3 Vinum Italicum Opera Rosso available at Costco. 40% Corvina Veronese from Verona, 30% Primitivo di Manduria from Puglia and 30% Nero d'Avola from Sicily, … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio - Cheap and Good
The Kirkland Signature Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio from Costco, only $4.99 and packed with flavor. Pinot Grigio from Friuli Grave, Italy. … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Toscana - Still Sensational?
We check out the latest vintage of the Kirkland Signature Toscana from Costco. The 2019 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...]
Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva - Too Good To Be True?
A combination of factors make this wine seem almost too good to be true, the Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva from Costco. [UPDATE March 2023: Below is a review of the 2019 vintage of this wine. After tasting the just released 2020 vintage of this normally very … [Read more...]
Famiglia Olivini Lugana - Quite Pleasing
An attractive, balanced white from Lugana in Northern Italy, the Famiglia Olivini Lugana. 100% Trebbiano di Laguna (Verdicchio) from the Lugana wine region in northern Italy. The wine has less than 2 g/L of residual sugar. … [Read more...]
Villa Cerrina Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Tart, Simple and...
Revisiting the Villa Cerrina Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, an old $5 favorite from Trader Joe's. But does it still measure up? There's no information given from Trader Joe's but this is a DOC wine so according to the rules for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo it must be at least 85% … [Read more...]
INSIDER DEAL! Half Off 92-94 Point Italian 4-Pack from Mustilli
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. Today we've got a special treat for you from Italy: Two 94-point bottles of Aglianico plus two 92-point bottles featuring the rare … [Read more...]
Adventure Series Chianti - Surprisingly Competent Stuff
Authentic Chianti character for just $4.99 courtesy of Aldi, the Adventure Series Chianti DOCG. Primarily Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy. … [Read more...]
Santi Ventale Valpolicella Superiore - Nice
A basic Valpolicella Superiore with a fantastic finish, the Santi Ventale Valpolicella Superiore. A blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella from vineyards in the Illasi Valley in the Valpolicella wine region in Veneto, Italy. The wine is aged for 18 months in 500-litre … [Read more...]
Castello La Leccia Vivaio del Cavaliere - More Than Meets The Eye
A Tuscan blend that delivers more than anticipated, we review the Castello La Leccia Vivaio del Cavaliere Toscano Rosso. 75% Sangiovese, 20% Malvasia Nera and 5% Syrah, all organically grown, from Tuscany, Italy. The wine is matured in concrete tanks for 6 months. … [Read more...]
Villa di Capezzana Carmignano – Full-Bodied Deliciousness
A big, dry, rich and tasty wine, the Villa di Capezzana Carmignano DOCG. Organically grown 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from Carmignano, Tuscany, Italy. The wine is aged in French barriques and tonneaux for 12 months and another 12 months in bottle before … [Read more...]
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