Top Italian Red Wines for $20

Italian Red Wines 101

Walk into any wine shop, and you will be confronted with hundreds of Italian red wines, ranging in price from six dollars to hundreds. Your goal is to get the best bottle of wine for the most decent price possible. The best way to do this is to have a wine education or at least attend a few wine-tasting classes. Without being a trained sommelier, the only real way to get a great bottle of wine into your hands is to follow tried-and-true rules that have worked wonders in my 30-year career in wine.

Nebbiolo

A contradiction for many, including sommeliers: a high-acid, lightly-hued red wine that is deeply flavorful and tannic. Nebbiolo is the grape of the vaunted Barolo, with a price tag that matches its fame. To get a better price, look to the Langhe region surrounding Barolo.

Two of the best wines that offer great value are the La Spinona Langhe Nebbiolo, which is floral and cherry-forward with just the right amount of funk. The other is the Paitin Langhe Nebbiolo Starda, which brings the same floral notes with an added lemon rind and spice note to the mix.

Food & Wine Pairings

A truffle-cream pasta will bring out the earthiness and tame some of the aggressive tannins. Another great option would be short ribs with polenta.

Chianti Classico

The Chianti region fell on hard times in the 60s and 70s, and the wine quality suffered terribly. The main grape in the Tuscan region of Chianti is Sangiovese, which is traditionally very similar to Pinot Noir: high acid, complex, and light-bodied. The Classico appellation is one of the best regions in Chianti for this grape, and quality levels are uniformly high. The best wines are elegant, with sandalwood and leather notes balanced with toasted spices and red fruits.

I love the Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Chianti Classico for its sheer verve and sophistication. Another beautiful bottling is the San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva, which is richer and rounder with a bit more of a modern touch.

Food & Wine Pairings

The classic pairing is a Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a rare steak grilled over charcoal and drizzled with olive oil and salt. For a light meal, the cannellini-based Ribollita soup is a great option as well.

Rosso di Montalcino

Montalcino quickly rose to fame in the 1970s with its iconic Brunello di Montalcino. The grape in these wines is the same as in Chianti –Sangiovese– in the same general area. Rosso di Montalcino is sourced from younger vines and without expensive oak aging. The other is the declassified wines of the region, which are called Toscana Rosso (as a note, not all Toscana Rossos are from Montalcino).

These Italian red wines are typically much more modern than Chianti Classico wines: richer, darker fruit with more aggressive but rounder tannins. However, the best go in the opposite direction: funky, floral, and reminiscent of my years as a winemaker in Tuscany. Two of my favorites are the Lisini San Biagio Toscana Rosso and the La Colombina Rosso Di Montalcino.

Food & Wine Pairings

With these Italian red wines, I love Lampredotto, but that isn’t something you will find in the States. Instead, I often pair them with a Pecorino di Pienza. If you can’t find that specific cheese, go with a Pecorino Toscana, with at least four months of age (Stagionato).

Etna Rosso

The wines of Sicily are undervalued for many historical reasons, but every winemaker in Italy knows that these are some of the best Italian red wines available. There are two top regions for reds, Vittoria and Mt. Etna. Vittoria is known for its Frappato and Nero D’Avola, while Mt. Etna is famous for Nerello Mascalese. You can’t go wrong with either of these regions, but I recommend the Etna Rosso as Sicily’s top Italian red wine.

These wines are rich, round, and mineral-driven, with an edge of smoke and herbs. The Terrazze dell’ Etna Carusu Etna Rosso and the Tasca D’almerita Tascante Giaia Nera are two of the best in this price range.

Food & Wine Pairings

These wines are surprisingly adroit when it comes to pairings. They are excellent with eggplant-based dishes, especially Pasta ‘Ncasciata. It is also fantastic with savory chicken dishes.

Refosco

These wines hail from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. Most American sommeliers know this region for pinot grigio and often forget their wonderful Italian red wines. Refosco is a classic Italian varietal but little known outside of Italy.

These are serious wines, and fans of cool-weather Italian red wines likely find them a perfect fit for their wine cellar. Refosco is a zesty and fresh wine with cranberry flavors balanced with blue flowers and blueberries. The Perusini Refosco Peduncolo Rosso Colli Orientali del Friuli is stellar, and the Luisa Refosco is lovely for a lighter version.

Food & Wine Pairings

This is one of the lighter Italian red wines, but even so, don’t pair this with fish: it typically has a high iron content that will ruin the pairing. Instead, this wine is wonderful with Cjarsons (potato dumplings) or even German food.