Are you dreaming of an Italian summer but can’t get the time off work, can’t afford the flight, or simply want to avoid the crowds due to the Jubilee? Don’t sweat it—you can get a taste of Italy at home, without breaking the bank.
Whether you want to head to Puglia’s coastlines, volcanic Sicily, or the rolling hills of Tuscany, you can sip your way through Italy right at home for under $30 a bottle with one of these excellent Italian wines.
If you’re looking for more boozy bargains, be sure to check out our rundowns of The Best Whiskeys Under $30 and The Best Rums Under $30.
Photo courtesy of Donnafugata
Donnafugata Lighea - Zibibbo Sicilia DOC 2023
Founded in 1983 by Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo, Donnafugata produces wines crafted with precision, utilizing unique territories and vineyards across Sicily. Their Lighea – Zibibbo Sicilia DOC 2023, which has a beautiful bottle made from recycled glass, is made from Zibibbo grapes (Moscato di Alessandria) and is produced in Southern Sicily at Pantelleria Island. The taste of this straw-yellow white wine will bring you to the sunny coast, with strong orange blossom flavors, and hints of cedar, bergamot, and lychee. To bring the Mediterranean vibes further to your doorstep, pair this wine with some oily fish like mackerel or trout, or spaghetti aglio e olio.
Photo courtesy of Avaline
Avaline Italian Bianco
One of the most underrated regions in Italy from a tourist perspective is Puglia, but it is a vacation hotspot for locals in the summer. If you need further motivation to visit Puglia, sample a bottle of Avaline Italian Bianco from Foggia, a small city in the region. Made with Falanghina grapes, this bright and floral wine is fairly light in color with a bubble gum and peach ring aroma on the nose. Plus, the producer, Cantine Losito Leonardo, is a certified organic farm that’s been around since 1960.
Photo by Kaitlyn Rosati
Marchesi Frescobaldi – Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico DOCG 2021
In the Gaiole hills of Tuscany’s Chianti region, Marchesi Frescobaldi has been producing wine since the year 1300. For the most classic Italian wine on this list, go for Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico DOCG 2021 from Marchesi Frescobaldi. With vineyards perched 500 meters above sea level, the combination of altitude and sunlight exposure results in a vibrant purple-red wine with robust berry, plum, violet, and cherry notes, with a mineral finish. For the ultimate Tuscan effect, make a tagliere, Italy’s version of charcuterie, ideally with Tuscan classics like Lardo di Colonnata, Salame Toscano, and Pecorino Toscano DOP.
Photo via Banfi
Banfi La Pettegola Vermentino Toscano IGT
Intrigued by Tuscany, but not a huge fan of red wines? Vermentino is a light-skinned Italian grape that often produces a crisp white wine ideal for summer sipping, and Banfi La Pettegola Vermentino Toscano IGT is one of the best on the market.You’ll quickly be transported to aperitivo in a piazza with its intense exotic fruity notes, along with Mediterranean spices. Each glass has well-balanced acidity with a clean finish, and is ideal if paired with seafood, arugula salads, and paninis. The producer has been running since 1919 and is now woman-owned, by third-generation proprietor Cristina Mariani-May.
Photo by Kaitlyn Rosati
Muri Gries Pinot Nero Alto Adige DOC 2023
Way up north in the mountains of Trentino is Muri Gries, a wine-producing monastery. With a longstanding commitment to the Lagrein grape, it’s no surprise that Muri Gries’ red wine reigns superior. The Pinot Nero Alto Adige DOC 2023 has a distinctive crisp ripe cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant aroma. The delicately spiced taste has hints of tarragon, and the palate has pronounced tannins, acidity, and berries. Like a true mountaineer, enjoy a glass (or two) with braised meat like lamb or beef, hearty vegetables like mushrooms and cabbage, and polenta. For a lighter bite, a sharp cheese like Piave Vecchio ought to do the trick.
Photo by Kaitlyn Rosati
Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC 2024
Americans love their Pinot Grigio, and we have the Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions to thank for producing the best in the world. Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC 2024 is made with Pinot Grigio grapes from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and the province of Trento (in Trentino) to create an award-winning complex, dry wine with scents of chamomile, jasmine, and pear. This Pinot Grigio is ideal for an at-home aperitivo with light snacks like crostini, fruit, cheese, and meat.
Photo via Virtus Wine
Lunaria Orange Malvasia Pet Nat
My eyes were opened to Italy’s natural wine scene after spending time at Venti Vino, a quaint, woman-owned bar in Perugia. When I returned home, I longed for my nights at Venti Vino, and wanting to recreate the setting, I bought a bottle of Lunaria Orange Malvasia Petnat from the Abruzzo region. This sparkling, orange, natural wine is made from Pinot Grigio grapes using the ancestral method. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks, and then undergoes a second fermentation which creates a light, sparkling effect.
“The bottles are really cool, they have hand-tied wool strings holding the cork down. The string is made from sheep that are allowed to roam the vineyard and eat the grasses between the vines,” Thomas Delasko, General Manager and Sommelier of Via Sophia in Hamilton Hotel DC tells me. “It has a bit of a funky taste, being a pet nat.”
