11 Best Italian red wines under $25

Best Italian red wines under $25 Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Chianti Nero d’Avola

When it comes to quality and good value red wines, Italy offers some of the best and most affordable reds you can find for under $25. Most people have tried a Chianti before – it’s a red wine from Tuscany made from the Sangiovese grape. But almost every Italian region produces a noteworthy red, you just need to know what to look for! From Dolcetto and Nebbiolo in Piedmont, to Valpolicella in Verona, Nero D’Avola in Sicily, and Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, you have a huge range of flavor profiles and styles to choose from, particularly in the $15-25 range. And the best thing about going with an Italian red is almost all of the wines we’re going to tell you about will make a perfect pairing with whatever you’re serving up for dinner (including most classic Italian red sauce dishes).

Best Italian red wines under $25

11 Italian red wines you need to try

Dolcetto

Dolcetto is a red wine with low tannins and bright berry and blueberry notes that’s a beautiful deep violet in color. It’s one of the most common wines in Italy’s Piedmont region and you can also find plum fruit and hints of anise in its flavor profile. The Dolcetto grape itself is usually planted in the cooler areas of a vineyard as it ripens early and is the first red varietal to be ready at harvest time. Dolcetto is the perfect wine to serve with barbecue food like hamburgers, sausages, and chicken. Pick up a bottle of Dolcetto for between $15 and $20.

Barbera

Barbera is another everyday drinking wine from Piedmont. It’s a high acid wine, that’s medium in body and color, with cherries in its flavor profile. There are two styles of Barbera and the one that is less expensive is usually aged in neutral oak for just a few months to preserve its body, acidity and primary fruit. This lighter style of Barbera is bright and fresh and we’d recommend it for pairing with everything from red sauce pasta dishes to grilled salmon and even sushi. Note, you’ll see Barbera D’Alba, D’Asti and Monferrato, these are just different sub regions where they make this wine. If you are interested in trying the other style, look for a bottle in the $35-50 range. It could see longer oak aging for up to two years and will be a richer and fuller red that can go with roasts and different meats. Try the lighter style of Barbera wines for $15-20.

More Italian red wines including two affordable and one higher price option from Piedmont, pictured are Dolcetto, Barbera and a Nebbiolo d’Alba

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is another noteworthy wine from the Piedmont region. You may be familiar with the name because it’s the same grapes that go into both Barolo and Barbaresco, two of Italy’s more expensive reds famed for their aging potential. But Piedmont also produces the easy drinking and less tannic Nebbiolo d’Alba and Langhe Nebbiolo. Expect red fruit, good body and acidity, and cherry notes with floral aromatics. Some people even compare these wines to Bourgogne Pinot Noirs! Unlike Barolo and Barbaresco, they will be ready to drink at release and you can pair them with chicken and pork dishes. You’ll find plenty of Nebbiolo options in the $20-30 range, as well as some higher price wines at $30-45.

Valpolicella

This is a red wine from the Verona area in the north of Italy. It’s known for its vibrant cherry flavors with hints of almond and sometimes floral aromatics. Valpolicella is usually medium-bodied and made from a blend of several indigenous grapes. There are a few different levels of this wine, but the most accessible price wise will be labeled Valpolicella DOC, Classico or Classico Superiore. You can also sometimes get a lower priced Ripasso, which is a fuller-bodied and bigger wine, that has more structure and will be higher in alcohol. These red wines go well with most Italian dishes, especially tomato-based sauces and pizzas. Look for a Valpolicella wine for $15-25.

Chianti Classico

If you’ve been to an Italian restaurant before, chances are you’ve tried this wine. It’s probably the most well known red from Italy. Chianti comes from the Tuscany region and is predominantly made from the Sangiovese grape. It has high acidity and soft tannins with sour cherry and plum notes and goes well with red sauce dishes and grilled meats. If you pick up a Classico Riserva it will be a fuller-bodied wine that spends longer in oak and costs a bit more. Keep an eye out for a black rooster on the label which will tell you the wine came from the Classico area. Consider a DOC wine for $18-25 or a Riserva for $25-45.

Wine Tip: Sangiovese is a wine made from Sangiovese grapes that either didn’t meet the quality standards to be called Chianti or were grown outside of Tuscany, for example in Emilia-Romagna. Note, they may even be from outside of Italy as they’re starting to grow Sangiovese grapes in Australia too! Learn more about Sangiovese in this article.

Good options for red wine from Italy if you want something affordable include Valpolicella and Montepulcanio d’Abruzzo along with a Rosso di Montalcino

Rosso di Montalcino

Rosso di Montalcino (not to be confused with Rosso di Montepulciano which comes from the southern Tuscan region of Montepulciano) is produced in Italy’s Brunello region and is made from the Sangiovese grape as well, albeit a mutation that has smaller berries. This gives the wine more skin to juice contact and consequently more tannins and body. A typical Rosso di Montalcino has deep red berry flavors with hints of Mediterranean herbs. This is a wine that goes well with red meat, stews and heartier dishes. Rosso di Montalcino is usually released a year after harvest and you can find it in most fine wine shops for $22-30+.

Montepulciano D’Abruzzo

From the central Italian region of Abruzzo comes a Montepulciano which is an intensely fruity red with rich berry notes and a deep ruby color. Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is a medium to full-bodied wine that can be either oaked or unoaked. It comes from a part of Italy which is perhaps less-well known, but still makes excellent value and reliable table wines that are great for weekday dinners and larger meals shared with friends. A Montepulciano D’Abruzzo would go well with lamb chops, lasagna or even a roast chicken. Look for a Montepulciano D’Abruzzo wine in the $12-25 range.

Lambrusco

You may see the name Lambrusco and initially roll your eyes. That’s because Lambrusco was first sold in America as a cheap and low quality wine that was sweet and even had some carbonation to it. But true Lambrusco, from the Emilia-Romagna area of Italy, is a wine with much more substance. It’s made from three varieties of the Lambrusco grape and can have beautiful fruit with floral aromas, high acidity and medium body, along with a bit of “frizzante” or sparkle. It’s an uncomplicated red wine that’s one of the best choices for stone-baked pizza, hamburgers and sausages. You’ll know a quality wine if it falls in the $15-22 range.

Nero D’Avola

Sicilian wines are a hot item these days and are showing up on more and more restaurant menus, both by the bottle and by the glass. Nero D’Avola is no exception. Nero D’Avola, also known as Calabrese, has dark fruits and blackberry in its flavor profile, with hints of wild herbs and soft tannins. A Nero D’Avola is a perfect full-bodied red you can enjoy with most Italian fare, as well as pork chops, white bean soups and charcuterie. Note, it tends to be a bit higher in alcohol and you want to drink this wine slightly chilled, soon after release. You can find it in most fine wine shops for $15-20.

Frappato

Another red grape varietal native to Sicily is Frappato. Frappato is a light to medium-bodied red wine often compared to Beaujolais from France. It has less tannins, more bright fruit and is easy to drink, pairing well with simple foods and lighter meals, including salads and antipasto. You can find Frappato in most fine wine shops with a good Italian section for $20-30.

Primitivo

Primitivo is a more rustic, full-bodied wine from the Puglia region, which is the heel of the boot if you’re looking at a map of Italy. It’s often thought to be related to Zinfandel as both grape varietals originated in Croatia. These wines can be high in alcohol and fairly intense in color and flavor. Expect blueberry, blackberry and leather notes with good minerality and a price starting at $15-20.

Wine Tip: Looking for a more unusual wine? Try Schioppettino from the Friuli region. It may be hard to find but it’s definitely something fun and a bit different. Schioppettino is made from an ancient grape variety and has spicy and peppery notes, with violet and berry aromatics.

Why are Italian red wines such a good price?

Italy has been producing red wine for millennia with many wineries being passed down generation to generation and land ownership staying within families sometimes going back 500 years. This means that as a consumer, you’re not paying for the high cost of purchasing a vineyard, as you would be doing in say California’s Napa Valley. Moreover, Italy went through a winemaking renaissance of sorts starting in the 1960s and 70s led by Tuscany, Piedmont and Friuli. Region by region more areas began to modernize, keeping grapes on their skins for less time, using cold fermentation, stainless steel, and lower yields. This resulted in more refined and higher quality wines. Italy also produces a lot of wine — and a good supply helps to keep prices down.

Brunello di Montalcino is a more expensive Italian red you can try but it’s one of the great red wines of Italy

If you want go to higher

While there are plenty of affordable Italian wines and you can often get a Riserva for a small step up in price, there are also some more expensive options from Italy, like Brunello, Barolo and Barbaresco.

  • Brunello di Montalcino. Brunello is one of the great red wines of Italy. It’s a big, richly textured wine with concentrated notes of blackberry, black raspberry, cherry, and hints of espresso and leather. Brunello is a great choice if you’re having a Filet Mignon and will run at around $55+.
  • Barolo and Barbaresco. The king and queen of Piedmont, these two wines are 100% Nebbiolo, grown in the Langhe foothills of the Italian Alps. Barolo and Barbaresco are medium in body and color but are higher in tannins and need to see extensive aging before they can fully be enjoyed. Prices for this year’s release start at $45+ for Barolo and $35+ for Barbaresco.
  • Amarone. The highest level of Valpolicella, Amarone is a rich, bull-bodied red that is high in alcohol and full of intense cherry flavors. It’s best to serve Amarone with a roast suckling pig and other highly spiced dishes with rich sauces. Note, Amarone can have a hint of residual sugar because of how it’s made using late-harvest dried grapes. Prices for Amarone start at $45+.

What’s a Super Tuscan?

At the extreme high end, price-wise, of Italy’s red wines you’ll find the Super Tuscans. Produced in, you guessed it, Tuscany, they’re made mostly with non indigenous grape varietals including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. These reds tend to be blends that are aged in French oak. Look for Ornellaia, Tignanello, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, Vigorello, Solaia and Guado al Tasso. Learn more in this article on Super Tuscans.

Pair spaghetti carbonara with a Chianti Classico
Pair a margarita pizza with a Dolcetto from northern Italy

7 Top tips for ordering the right Italian red wine for your meal

  1. Spaghetti Carbonara. A traditional Carbonara sauce is made with crisp pancetta, black pepper and sharp cheeses. You want a high acid and medium-bodied wine to go with this meal. Italy’s tried and true Chianti Classico would make an excellent pairing!
  2. Stonebaked Pizza. You are spoiled for choice when it comes to wines from Italy that go well with pizza. If you’re having a traditional Margherita, try a Dolcetto, for grilled vegetables and mushroom pizzas go with a Primitivo, and for a calzone with sausage and pepperoni, a Valpolicella would be best.
  3. Chicken or Veal Scallopini. These dishes can have different flavor profiles depending on their sauce. For more citrus-based preparations like Picatta, look for a Frappato from Sicily. For sweeter Marsala sauces, a Valpolicella Ripasso will pair beautifully, and for Saltimbocca, you’ll want a Nebbiolo wine.
  4. Eggplant Parmigiana. This dish is typically served with a rich marinara sauce paired with the sometimes sweeter notes of eggplant and of course, melted cheese. We’d suggest a Montepulciaon D’Abruzzo because it has the acidity you need to really complement your meal.
  5. Linguini Frutti di Mare. You want a wine that’s lighter in body and higher in acidity so you can taste the subtle flavors of the seafood. Either go with a Barbera, Dolcetto – or a white wine if that’s what you are in the mood for!
  6. Bistecca alla Fiorentina. On the richer side, this is a thicker cut steak that needs a wine with more body to it, like a Nero D’Avola.
  7. Pasta Bolognese. A classic Italian meal with slow cooked ground meat and tomatoes, serve pasta bolognese with a Rosso di Montalcino.

Italian wines don’t just go with Italian food

Keep in mind, wines from Italy are often overlooked when it comes to food pairings outside of Italian cuisine but they’re some of the best and most adaptable reds you can buy at this price point and they pair well with all kinds of food. Whether it’s staple American fare like pot-roast and grilled pork chop, barbecue ribs, or even your Thanksgiving turkey, you have plenty of options to explore.

  • Wine roundup
author

Freddy is a retired wine professional and wine educator who was Vice President of the sixth largest wine importer and wholesaler in the United States for over 40 years. He currently works as a wine consultant and collaborates with his daughter to write articles that help people learn about wine.

Brian Keeping
Reviewer

Brian Keeping

Brian is an avid wine enthusiast and wine educator who has spent 45+ years in the fine wine industry. From 1975 to 1994 he was part owner and sales director of Silenus Wines and from 1994 to 2021 served as Fine Wine Director at Carolina Wines & Spirits.

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