Best Italian Red Wines Under $20

Intense aromas of blackberries and ripe wild berries. Fresh, lively and frizzante with a soft lingering finish. Roscato Rosso Dolce is an irresistible, delicately sweet, gently fizzy red wine from the northern Italian region of Lombardy. Made from three native grape varieties grown in this beautiful region for centuries. Croatina, Teroldego and Lagrein Roscato makes a wonderful aperitif and is also incredibly food-friendly. Roscato seamlessly combines a long-held grape growing tradition with the flair of modern winemaking techniques and style. The result is a wine of enticing character that perfectly meets the surging demand for sweet red blends. With a low alcohol of 7% and just a touch of sparkle to flawlessly balance the sweetness, Roscato is the ideal complement for today's cuisine. Refreshing and food-friendly; pairs well with flavorful dishes and spicy cuisine, or even your favorite dessert! Serve chilled. 89 Points, Planet Grape, June 2019

Intense violet robe. Aromas of plum and ripe blackberry. Each sip delivers a mouthful of ripe berries, leather and black pepper with subtle hints of oregano, dried herbs and a touch of vanilla; all leading to a dry and supple finish.

For our Chianti, we source our grapes from south-facing hillside vineyards outside Vinci and Cerreto Guidi in the western part of the Chianti region. Our Chianti is made with 90% Sangiovese grapes and 10% Merlot grapes. The grapes are gently crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks with temperatures controlled between 70°F and 80°F. This temperature control allows us to produce a Chianti with balanced tannins and rich fruit aromas and flavors. The wine is then fermented to dry for 8 days. About 15% of the wine is barrel aged for 6 months in new and used American oak barrels to add some complexity to it. DaVinci Chianti is a well-balanced wine of medium weight with jammy flavors of ripe plums, cherries and red fruit. It has a deep crimson color and is a lively wine with a soft mineral finish and round tannins that linger in long, peppery finish. This wine pairs perfectly with all starters, pastas and meat dishes and is best when served slightly below room temperature (64°F).

Chianti DOCG Red Wine combines sangiovese grapes with merlot and cabernet sauvignon to create this top quality red wine blend. This Ruffino wine features deep, fruity plum and intense cherry flavors, accompanied by hints of spice, hazelnut, and delicate violet aromas. Harvested from the well-known winegrowing areas of the Chianti region, this red blend goes through alcoholic fermentation aided by racking and punch-downs in stainless steel and concrete vats for two weeks, followed by four months of aging. This results in a fresh and balanced medium-bodied fruity wine that is easy to enjoy and lingers on the palate. Easy to sip and approachable, this chianti wine pairs well with Italian dishes such as ravioli, margherita pizza, and beef carpaccio, or international favorites such as a classic hamburger. As its first wine ever produced, this chianti red wine occupies a special place in the heart and history of Ruffino, serving as a benchmark for quality and consistency for many wine lovers worldwide. Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2020 Ruffino Import Company, Rutherford, CA USA

Introduced in 1928 by Niccolo' Antinori, Villa Antinori Rosso is a full-bodied and complex red wine combining elegance, structure and smooth tannins. Villa Antinori Rosso offers notes of wild berries such as bilberries, and plums that blend with hints of toasted hazelnuts, spices and vanilla. Traditional and international grape varieties, all sourced from the Antinori family's best vineyards in Tuscany, are blended together to create this Tuscan classic. Ratings: 2013: 91pts James Sucking; 90pts Wine Advocate 2014: 90pts James Suckling 2015: 93pts James Suckling 2016: 91pts James Suckling Food pairings: Grilled red meats, roasted pork and hearty pasta dishes

This is one of the wines that has made Allegrini famous throughout the world. The vineyard surrounds Villa della Torre, a splendid masterpiece of Renaissance architecture now owned by the family, and produces a full-bodied red wine that has an ageing potential of at least ten years. The blend is the historic combination of Corvina and Rondinella with the addition of a small quantity of Sangiovese. A small percentage of the harvested grapes are left to dry out until December and then added to the previously vinified fresh grapes. The result is a velvety, well-balanced red wine that proffers mature, pulpy fruit.

Discover Il Conte Stella Rosa Red

Santa Cristina wines combine Tuscan traditions with modern flavors, resulting in extremely versatile wines - perfect for everyday enjoyment. Live Italian, Drink Italian with Santa Cristina. Santa Cristina Rosso, the best-selling red wine in Italy, is a soft and full-bodied red wine. An original Tuscan classic that offers great value and everyday enjoyment. Pleasurable and intense, offers fruity notes of cherries, blackberries, and plums fused with aromas of vanilla and coffee. Ratings: 2015: 90pts James Suckling ; Wine Spectator Top 100 Values 2016: 90pts Wine Spectator 2017: 90pts James Suckling Food pairings: Hearty pasta dishes, lamb and beef burgers, grilled sausages and pizza

This is a very innovative product, a young "Super-Tuscan", whose characteristics are never found together in the same wine. Dogajolo combines the power and deep colors of a young wine, the elegance and balance given by wood aging, as well as a fruity and fragrant bouquet. 80% Sangiovese 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Highly respected producer of the Montepulciano grape (Tre Bicchieri winner!). This medium-bodied dry red is the perfect, versatile, food-friendly Italian wine that so many restaurants and Italian homes have as their everyday wine.

Ruffino Superiore Chianti Red Wine is an intensely flavorful and medium-bodied red wine blend containing sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot red grape varieties. This red blend showcases rich flavors of plum, dark cherry and blueberry with hints of black pepper and spice. Steady-yet-elegant tannins and a lingering finish match perfectly with the fruity body of this Italian wine. Each bottle of this Ruffino wine contains grapes from the highly sought-after sub-regions of Valdarno and Monteriggioni in Chianti. Extended grape skin contact continues for seven days to enhance this wine's rich color and flavors. After malolactic fermentation adds smooth, velvety characteristics, this chianti wine ages for at least seven months in concrete and stainless steel vats, with an additional two months of bottle aging. Pair a glass of this fine wine with Italian sausage, lasagna or meatball sliders. Keep at room temperature then serve cool at around 60 degrees for optimal taste. Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2020 Ruffino Import Company, Rutherford, CA

The Chianti region of Tuscany extends from the city of Siena in the south to Florence in the north. Between those two cities, vines of Sangiovese grow on high hills where the intense summer heat is kept in check by the cool mountain air. Harvest occurs when the grapes are fully ripe and ready to produce a wine with body, freshness and classic aromas of red cherries, leather and spice. Expressive aromas of dried cherries and fresh flowers along with a mild fragrance of vanilla, leather and sweet spice. The wine showcases a texture that balances the naturally high acidity of Sangiovese with its ripe red fruit flavors and firm tannins.

The blend, albeit varying slightly depending on vintage conditions, is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. The best selections are blended and aged 1 year in oak (80% in Slavonian barrels, 20% in barrique) and at least 6 months in the bottle, achieving a graceful balance of voluptuous berry tones and flexible yet sturdy backbone. Dark ruby in color, its bouquet of leather, earth, herbs, black cherries, licorice and plums is confirmed on the medium to full-bodied palate – round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile with any fare from pasta or risotto, to meat, fowl and cheese.

The wine offers a brilliant ruby red color. As time passes, the hue is enriched with garnet tones that, as the years go by, lighten further toward orange with an ochre tint typical of Tuscan wines. The aroma is satisfyingly intense, fine and elegant, with light scents of ripe fruits and violets. As it evolves, the wine develops an appealing bouquet that is full and complex. It possesses a pleasant fullness and an outstanding balance of body and structure. Somewhat austere in its youth, the wine softens with age, becoming velvety and developing prolonged and appealing aromatic persistence.

Boasting an enviable combination of opulence and finesse, this opens with aromas of black plum, vanilla, baking spices and grilled herbs. The rich palate doles out plum cake, black cherry, black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg alongside smooth, velvety tannins. Gripping intensity holds on through the long finish. Drink through 2025.

This sweet red has aromas of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries will fill your nose, while flavors of plums, ripe berries and a gentle bubble fill your mouth.

100% Cannonau. An elegant wine with black and red berry aromas accented by herbal and earthy notes. Lively acidity is balanced by ripe tannins. A jewel in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is a rustic and enchantingly beautiful island with extreme geography and vinous diversity to tempt travelers and wine enthusiasts alike. Founded over a century ago by Messrs. Sella and Mosca, two well-respected figures during the Risorgimento (Italy’s 19th-century unification movement). The property is now home to over 1,200 acres of vines. As Sardinia’s foremost wine producer, Sella & Mosca’s premium wines are made exclusively from estate-grown grapes. In addition to native varieties such as Vermentino, Torbato and Cannonau, the winery has successfully pioneered the introduction of international grape varieties, notably Cabernet Sauvignon. 90pts Wine Enthusiast 12/19 2015V

Chianti has long been regarded by many as the "most Italian" of wines, not only because it is the most widely produced classified wine, but alsobecause it possesses a unique personality. Chianti is produced in eight adjacent, yet distinct, areas that cover a vast part of central Tuscany. But only one, which is the oldest and original, may produce Chianti Classico. However, provenance alone is not sufficient to merit the designation Chianti Classico. The producer must strictly adhere to all DOCG rules, which cover elements of vinification (such as alcohol content, yield per acre, and blend) as well as aging and bottling. Banfi Chianti Classico embodies all the characteristics that have made this wine an enduring classic: an alluring bouquet of black fruit and violets; rich flavors of cherry and leather; supple tannins and good acidity for dining. Fermentation takes place with traditional skin contact of 8-10 days. A short wood-aging in large casks of French oak follows. Bottling is carried out in the summer following the harvest. Banfi Chianti Classico is the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of foods, including, but not limited to red-sauced pastas, grilled meats, and roasts.

Ruby purple color with ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla. A dry, medium bodied red wine with refreshing acidity (making it perfect to pair with food) and soft tannins, the Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is well balanced with good integration of oak, good complexity and a finish of more red cherries.

Cusumano winery is spearheaded by two brothers who value for artistic excellence passion for meticulous detail have driven them to create an explosion of modern, innovative, dynamic wines. This fruit-forward wine is deep ruby red with firm tannins and notes of plummy spice.