Image via Complex Original
Italy produces some of the best wines in the world, but you don't have to be an expert to enjoy Italian wines that are both affordable and delicious. This list of ten wines from Italian producers offers variety, history, and flavor. Each one is perfect for numerous occasions, but you should certainly try them all before you die. Oh, and did I mention that you don't have to break the bank to procure these Italian gems? They are all available under $20, so head to the wine store and get to sippin'.
RELATED: Red Wines to Drink Instead of Pinot Noir
RELATED: 12 French Wines to Try Before You Die
RELATED: The Best Wines For Booze Drinkers
Anthilia
Producer: Donnafugata
Price: $13
Occasion: Buying a gift for your boss.
This wine is a blend of Cattarato and Asonica, and for many years these grapes were used (with a few other local grapes) to make the Sicilian fortified wine Marsala. The Donnafugata winery went in a different direction and made an elegant table wine. Anthilia has citrus and stone fruit flavors with focused, bright acidity and is nuanced with a complex mineral finish.
Roero Arneis
Producer: Vietti
Price: $19
Occasion: Cooking dinner for a new girlfriend.
Another local Piedmont grape Arneis (translates to "little rascal") is difficult to grow but produces a highly aromatic wine that has a long history. Once used as a blending grape and saved from extinction by a couple of dedicated producers, Arneis is currently experiencing a resurgence. Vietti's Roero Arneis is medium-bodied, crisp and floral with a fresh finish. Because of their scarcity, some Arneis can get expensive, but Vietti keeps his affordable.
Gavi di Gavi
Producer: Villa Sparina
Price: $16
Occasion: Trying something different.
Made from a local Piedmont grape called Cortese, the wines of Gavi manage both a lightness and rich texture that make them versatile and enjoyable. Villa Sparina takes Gavi seriously, and its expression has a well-balanced combination of fruit and mineral notes that make it not only a good food wine, but also a gateway wine for the budding enthusiast looking to try something new.
Verdicchio dei Casteli di Jesi
Producer: Sartarelli
Price: $9
Occasion: Go-to wine for a quiet night at home.
Sartarelli is one of my go-to wines, and while they have several different bottlings (some of which can get a bit expensive), their entry-level Verdicchio is an instant classic. The wine is refreshing and racy. On the palate, you'll find pear, green apple and lemon with a nicely understated mineral backbone. I almost can't recommend this wine enough. It would still be a great value at double the price.
Salice Salentino
Producer: Apollonio
Price: $17
Occasion: Washing down chocolate cake.
Located at the "heel" of the Italian boot, Salice Salentino is best known for red wines of moderate quality. While there are several great producers, Apollonio is one of my favorites. A great deal of care and craftsmanship is put into the wines, yet they still manage to remain affordable. Made from a blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, these wines are full-bodied, elegant and flavorful with lots of dark fruit and a velvety texture.
Ciró
Producer: Luigi Scala
Price: $18
Occasion: When hosting a party.
Ciró is believed to be one of the oldest wines in the world that is still produced. But despite its ancient heritage, Ciró is still fairly unknown. A handful of producers make red, white and rosé wines that are allowed to carry the Ciró designation, with red wines being by far the most common. Ciró reds are made from a local grape called Gaglioppo and, in the proper hands, the resulting wines can be very enjoyable. Luigi Scala's wines are more powerful than their light color suggest-they are ripe yet tart with a good tannic backbone.
Etna Rosso
Producer: Tenuta Delle Terre Nere
Price: $16
Occasion: Eating an authentic Sicilian meal.
For many years, Sicilian wines were heavy, high in alcohol and flabby. But with a resurgence of the long-forgotten local grape varieties partnered with high-elevation vineyards, the perceptions of Sicilian wines are quickly changing. These wines are made from the indigenous grapes Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio, which resemble Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo. The bottlings from Tenuta Delle Terre Nere display an elegance, finesse and grip that make them standouts in an area with numerous great producers.
Rosso di Valtelina
Producer: Sandro Fay
Price: $15
Occasion: When looking for a Pinot Noir alternative.
Nebbiolo is a grape that is most often associated with the prestigious regions of Barolo and Barbaresco in Italy. However, other lesser-known areas also make Nebbiolo-based wines. In Lombardy's Valtelina, these wines can share many of the characteristics of their famous brethren at a much more reasonable price. Sandro Fay's Rosso has a light color that is reminiscent of a Pinot Noir. But don't let the color fool you-there are ample tannins to back up the bright cherry flavors.
Costera Cannonau di Sardegna
Producer: Argiolas
Price: $12
Occasion: Vacationing in Spain or Sardinia.
During the time of Spanish rule over Sardinia, they brought over the Grenache grape, which is locally known as Cannonau. While Grenache is generally used as a blending grape, it thrives in the warm Sardinian climate and produces full flavored, deeply layered wines. Argiolas has several world-class wines in their lineup, but the Costera Cannonau has a price to quality ratio that can't be beat.
Lagrein
Producer: Elena Walch
Price: $16
Occasion: When looking for a Syrah alternative.
This native Northern Italian grape is a distant cousin of Syrah, but it has distinct plummy, earthy flavors that make it uniquely Lagrein. The natural high acidity and tannin of the grape can sometimes yield wines that are clumsy and heavy-handed, that is not the case with Elena Walch's expression. This wine manages to showcase the full-bodied nature and dark fruit flavors inherent to Lagrein while maintaining a degree of elegance and purity.