Italian Wine between $10 and $25

Organic/Bio From deep Southern Italy comes this delicious, gutsy, but still nicely fresh take on Primitivo, the Italian cousin to Zinfandel. There’s plenty of dark black plum and blackberry preserve fruit at the core with... Read More

One of the most deliciously savory Proseccos we've ever tasted comes from the very best subzone of the region and brother/sister team making benchmark wines for the past 20 years. The Vinous 91 point review describes it well:... Read More

“Gulpable” Chianti Classico isn’t really a thing, but maybe it should be? This blend of 90% Sangiovese plus Merlot and Colorino aged in big Slavonian oak casks would be a fine example. It’s bursting with... Read More

Lower ABV In the 1970's, Arneis almost went extinct despite being the most important white grape in the Langhe. Luckily for us, a resurgence in interest for Piemonte whites saved Arneis and we get this expression from Ca'Viola.... Read More

Lower ABV The “Vernaccia” in the winery name is a reference to the traditional wine of this part of Sardinia – a lightly fortified, Sherry-like, wine named for Sardinia’s version of Vernaccia. A small group... Read More

Always one of our favorite Pinot Grigio’s for it's compelling blend of depth, richness, vibrancy and cut. It’s grown by the 143 member/farmers of the Terlano cooperative winery (founded 1893!), each paying lots... Read More

Bellone was the dominant grape of this hills and valleys of Lazio, the region around Rome, in antiquity, made into a strong, sweet, nutty-brown wine consumed Roman elites at day-long symposia. After phylloxera, it was nearly wiped... Read More

West of Montalcino, Monteccuco balances inland Tuscany warmth with altitudes of more than 1,000 feet. That balance of sunny ripeness with freshness shows nicely here in this blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Ciliegiolo and 15% Montepulciano... Read More

Lower ABV Erbaluce is the historic grape of Canavese, the northern part of Piemonte just south of the entrance to Carema and the Valle d'Aosta. Remo Falconieri, now in his 80s, crafts a vibrant, zesty, youthful example. This... Read More

Lower ABV If you don’t know Arneis, then this is the perfect introduction to the white grape of Barolo and the sandier vineyards of the Roero hills next door. And if you do know Arneis and are used to paying $20-$25 for... Read More

“Ripasso” means a fully dry Valpolicella wine is poured over the pressing from Amarone where the remaining sugar there triggers a second fermentation that enriches and darkens the wine. Here it added intensity to the... Read More

Lower ABV The kind of excellent value in all-purpose, clean, fresh, and delicious Pinot Grigio that's getting harder and harder to find. Importer Lia Tolaini-Banville sources fruit from across the Veneto and ferments it cool... Read More

Pecorino was the dominant white grape in the Marche for hundreds of years before it dwindled post-phylloxera in favor of more productive vines. Thought to be extinct, a few plants were rediscovered in the 1980s and today it's... Read More

Marachelle = practical joke and this is all about that kind of silly fun. It's 60% Durella - the native grape of this part of the Veneto - plus Chardonnay with second fermentation in bottle but then no disgorgement. Drinks... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV No way you try this blind and guess it sells for <$20. Because it shouldn’t and only does because importer Lia Banville-Tolaini owns the vineyard and winery and uses it to craft this “door... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Another great vintage here! It’s 100% Sangiovese grown in the heart of Chianti Classico and farmed organically and made carefully by the team at the award-winning Toliani estate. The fruit is picked... Read More

Lower ABV Here’s a secret: no one needs to make good Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The millions of tourists who come to see the 12th century walled city’s towers slurp down anything with “San Gimignano” on... Read More

So much care and effort go into Fontanavecchia's everyday Aglianico that it's hard to believe it sells for such a song! Aglianico is Campania's most important red grape, and it can be used to make dark, powerful, leathery... Read More

Lower ABV Coda di Volpe held a prime place in the Roman vineyard and, after empire, picked up its current name because the long, gangly, grape bunches reminded growers of the tail of a fox. Libero Rillo at Fontanavecchia is helping... Read More

This is Libero Rillo's “fresh” Falanghina, going from vine to stainless steel to bottle with no oak and just a touch of time on the lees (spent yeast cells) to amplify the texture without diminishing the wine’s... Read More

This delicious frizzante wine is a rare version of red Malvasia, made with a touch of sweetness and a light, frothy, sparkle. As The Washington Post’s Dave McIntyre said about the 2011, “This delightful little frizzante... Read More

As you’d guess from the label, this is super-traditional Barbera picked ripe and juicy and aged just a brief time in large oak for a touch of structure. Big aromas and flavors of crunch red and juicy black fruits gain complexity... Read More

Dolcetto is Piemonte’s lunchtime and afternoon red – the kind of wine you enjoy with friends and casual food when the wine’s job is to quench your thirst and make everyone smile a bit. This is that, a rich and... Read More

Vinous describes this cheerful, fun, Abruzzo Montepulciano well: opens with a darkly floral blend of wilted violets and lavender, giving way to crushed blackberries and sage. It's soft and round with a silken texture and masses... Read More

Lower ABV From northwestern Piemonte – 20 miles west of Milan – this is joyful and substantial rosé of Nebbiolo. A serious red grape delivers a playful pink here, with boatloads of dried her, lemon rind-dusted... Read More