Best Buys – 22 wines under $20

At one of the seminars at Vino 2010, the person next to me said, “It is impossible to get a good Italian wine for under $20.00.”  This got me thinking.  Often, maybe too often, I write about very expensive and very old wines, but I do not drink these wines every day. I like expensive older wines, but the price of a wine does not impress me. I would rather drink a $12 traditionally made wine than one that costs 20 times as much and tastes like every other wine. It is the style of the wine that is important to me -- not the price.
 

Here is a list of 22 wines all under $20 that I would drink instead of a number of more expensive wines. Remember you do not have to pay a lot of money for wine to drink well.

Nino Franco Prosecco Valdobbiadene “Rustico”  NV  D.O.C. 100% Prosecco (After April 2010 the area is Prosecco and the grape is Glera) Fresh citrus aromas and  flavors  with good bubbles. In the Veneto, Prosecco is always served in a white wine glass.  Veneto $19.  

Cantina di Soave- Rocca Sveva Soave Classico DOC Made from 100% Garganega . This is a wine has citrus notes a hint of lemon and good acidity.  Veneto $15

di Lenardo Vineyards  Grave Del Friuli

1. TOH! Da Uva Friulano- Friulano Friuli D.O.C. Grave, 100% Friuliano (Tocai).  It is a soft well balanced wine. Friuli, under $15

2. Sauvignon I.G.T. Venezia Giulia, a vine blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sancerre clones, aromatic  with aromas and flavors of sage and melon. Well balanced with good acidity. Friuli ,under $15

3. Pass the Cookies I.G.T. (Great name for a dessert wine) Venezia Giulia 100% Verduzzo. Harvested late and dried three months on the racks. Dried fruit aromas and flavors with undertones of caramel. It is a 500ml but still a great deal for under. Friuli, under $15

Feudi San San Gregorio Falanghiana  DOC  Made from 100% Falanghiana  The wine has  aromas of apple and a hint of pineapple with  citrus and minerals in  the aftertaste. Campania $19

Albino Armani  Foja Tonda-Casetta DOC Terradeiforti  100% Foja Tonda(aka Casetta) It has aromas of cherries, spices, dry plums and an undertone of leather. Well balanced with good acidity, along finish and pleasing aftertaste. ( Veneto) $19.99

Renato Ratti Barbera d’Alba “Torriglione” DOC Made 100% Barbera, Good fruit with aromas of plum with a nice spiciness in the mouth and good acidity. This is a wine that will age for at least 10 years.  Piedmont $19

Cantina Lungarotti Rubesco  Rosso di Torgiano D.O.C. Made from 70% Savgiovese and 30% Canaiolo.   Red fruit aromas and flavors with a hint of violets, long finish and a red fruit aftertaste. I had the 2005 a few nights ago and it was showing no signs of age. Umbria $14

Azienda Agricola Travignoli Villa Travignoli Chianti Rufina D.O.C.G.   100% Sangiovese.  It has aromas and flavors of red fruit, and real sangiovese character. Tuscany $15

Ruffino Chianti DOCG made from 75% Sangiovese and the rest from traditional grapes such as Canaiolo and Colorino.  The wine has fresh red berry aromas and flavors, good acidity and a touch of tannin. Tuscany $10

San Fabiano   Chianti DOCG Made from 85% Sangiovese and 15% of other grapes. It had aromas and flavors of cherries, some tannin and good acidity.  Tuscany $15

Masciarelli

1. Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo D.O.C. Citrus aromas and flavors with undertones of apple.  Abruzzo, $13

2. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo D.O.C. Red berry aromas and flavors, a hint of cherry and a touch of tobacco,.Abruzz0 $13

Cusumano  Benuara  70% Nero d’Avola and 30% Syrah, Sicily I.G.T. Aromatic with red and black fruit . Usually I do not like Nero d’Avola blended with Syrah, but the wine is in stainless steel and 20hl barrels and it works very well. Sicily $15-18

Sella and Mosca Cannonau Riserva  di Sardegna D.O.C. 100% Cannonau.  Good red fruit with hints of spices and herbs and very earthly. Sardinia   $15 

Agricole Vallone Vigna Flamino  Riserva Brindisi Rosso D.O.C. Mostly Negroamaro with Malvasis Nrea and Moltipulicano.  Red fruit aromas and flavors with a under tones of prune. Puglia $15

Cantina Sociale Cooperativa Copertino  Copertino Riserva D.O.C. 95% Negroammaro and 5% Malvasia Nera  Black and red fruit aromas and flavors with hint  a of  tobacco. Puglia $15

Conti Zecca Nergroamaro Salento D.O.C. 100% Negroamaro, aromas and flavors of red fruit with a hint of prune, Puglia $15

Cantina Vincenzo Ippolito Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Colli del Mancuso DOC Made from 100% Gaglioppo. Very traditional, Southern Italian wine, with hints of dry fruit and a very nice finish and aftertaste.  Calabria $17.

Lini  Lambrusco “LaBrusca” IGT Made from Lambrusco  Salamino and Ancllotta grapes. Vinified in the Charmat Metohod and aged in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for at least 3 months. It I low in alcohol with good acidity. Fresh red berry fruit aromas and flavors and one of the best Lambruco’s to have with food

Vietti Cascinetta Moscato d’ Asti 100% Moscato Bianco.DOC  It is fresh and light slightly sparkling(fizzante) with aromas and flavors of peaches and apricots. This wine is low in alcohol which makes it perfect  wine to end a meal. Try it over fruit salad or Italian style ices. $16 Piedmont

There are many more I could list, but these were the first 22 that came to mind and I will add to the list in the future.