The Best Italian Red Wines to Buy Under $20
Italy’s red wines are among the most coveted bottles around the world, with top Barolos and Super Tuscans fetching hundreds (and even thousands) of dollars. If you’re able to drink like a king, congratulations; however, wine fans don’t need to have a regal budget to taste some of the best bottles that are available today.
“The best thing about Italian wine is that it’s not just a category that offers good deals, it’s a category where you know you’re always getting a good deal—at any price point,” says Danielle Callegari, a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from Tuscany and Southern Italy. “The quality of Italian wine is high across the board, so even when you’re not in the mood to spend, you can be sure that if you reach for Italian you’re getting wine that outperforms expectations every time.”
What that means is, it’s it’s good time to reach for affordable bottles.
On this year’s Best Buys list—Wine Enthusiast’s annual compendium of the top wines for under $20—there was a strong contingent of Italian reds. Two made it to the top ten list, including a mouthwatering $19 Lambrusco from Paltrinieri that clocked in at number two and a $14 red blend from Tuscany’s Renzo Masi with notes of strawberry fruit leather and hibiscus at number nine.
Read on for the full list of affordable red wines from Italy, all taste tested and approved by our expert reviewers. These bottles make excellent bulk buys, so you’ll always have something on hand for pasta night or when friends stop by unexpectedly.
Renzo Masi 2020 Contrappasso Red (Toscana)
The nose features a nuanced, slightly astringent sweetness, with aromas of strawberry fruit leather, cherry, roses and hibiscus, and a stony undertone providing balance. On the palate, oranges emphasize the strawberry notes, while the enduring stoniness adds a light salinity. Powerful tannins and acid hold everything together. 94 points. Best Buy. — Danielle Callegari
$13.39 Fine Wine & Good Spirits
Piccini 2021 Poggio Alto Red (Toscana)
The dense, almost chewy dark fruit flavors of dried figs, dried cherries and plums with earth tones of soil and rocks and then savory aromas of old leather and bitter cocoa on the nose reveal the use of the Governo style, with more salted chocolate and dried red and black fruit on the palate for a decadent sip. 90 points. Best Buy. — D.C.
$14.95 Empire Wine
Banfi 2022 Chianti DOCG Superiore Red (Chianti)
On the nose, tart fruit aromas of cherries, raspberries and blackberries are balanced by the cooling, metallic depth of topsoil and graphite. That balance continues on the palate, which is rooted in firm but pliable tannins and enlivened by acid. 90 points. Best Buy. — D.C.
$12.99 Wine.com
Domini del Leone NV Red (Veneto)
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Raboso and Corvina from multiple vintages, this wine wafts out of the glass with a depth that shows the passion and dedication of the Fidora family. Aromas and flavors of black cherries, plum, clove, ground ginger, and wild herbs. Elegant on the palate with fine tannins that form a foundation in which the dark fruit notes have a place to fully express themselves on the elegant and seductive finish. 93 points. Best Buy. — Jeff Porter
$13.99 The Cellar d'Or
Dezzani 2022 Otto Bucce Red (Piemonte)
With a dense color, the wine immediately reveals intense sweet and savory spice aromas followed by dark and ripe black-fruited characteristics. Lush on the palate, it offers blackberry, spice and fine tannins. A flashy wine that makes a statement. 90 points. Best Buy. — J.P.
$9.40 Gutessen Shop
Cleto Chiarli 2022 Vigneto Cialdini Lambrusco Grasparossa (Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro)
Concentrated aromas of black plum, fig, blackberry, white pepper, allspice and tea leaf roll out of the glass. Gamy on the palate with a lush and generous offering of black cherry jam that is balanced by floral and savory elements bringing the wine to its earthy finish. 94 points. Best Buy. — J.P.
$18.99 Mr. D Wine Merchant
Cantina di Puianello 2022 Amabile Lambrusco (Lambrusco Reggiano)
This Lambrusco is a pretty expression of the Amabile (sweet) style, with inviting aromas of mixed red and blueberries that are both wild and fresh. A touch of green herbs adds a counter weight to the nose. The palate is fruit forward and well balanced, with hints of savory notes that perfectly complementing the wine’s sweetness: a solid and classic example of the style. 90 points. Best Buy. — J.P.
$18 The Buzzed Word
Paltrinieri 2023 Piria Lambrusco (Lambrusco di Sorbara)
The nose of this stunning frizzante reveals a distinct interplay between fresh bay leaf, thyme, and crushed cherries, delicately sprinkled with rose petals. On the palate, it offers a mouthwatering mix of freshly chopped raspberries, green herbs, and a hint of white pepper, accompanied by subtle gamy notes. Versatile and delightful, it pairs wonderfully with a range of dishes, from pizza to sushi, promising to please all palates. 94 points. Best Buy. — J.P.
$18.99 Triangle Wine Co.More Italian Wine Coverage
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