good italian wine recommendations

If you are looking for a solid Tuscan wine at a reasonable price point, then the Luce della Vite Lucente may just be what you are looking for. While not dominated by the expected Sangiovese grape, this wine brings 75% Merlot, 25% Sangiovese making for a soft, graceful blend of grapes. On the nose, you'll find dark cherry, plum, dark chocolate and a smidge of espresso. The palate profile dives deeper into the dark fruit, exposing stronger remnants of cherry and blackberry, mixed with black... Well made, well priced and ready to rumble with lovely floral aromatics, bright cherry fruit and unmistakable tobacco spice. This Tuscan beauty is easy to buy, easy to drink and undeniably Italian in character. A sure shot with tomato-based pasta, prosciutto and Italian cheeses. Everybody loves a good bottle of Prosecco and La Marca enjoys plenty of fans these days. With easy going bubbles, sweet citrus fruit, and delicate floral aromas, it's no wonder that this is a very popular Prosecco.

Clean lines, lively acidity, food pairing versatility, a fair price and solid distribution, all work together to give the La Marca Prosecco a definitive market edge.
good wine high alcohol contentGive it a go with a variety of fun appetizers, sweet and savory favorites, hot wings, chips and dips, shrimp...
best food and wine resorts Italians enjoy a long legacy of love, from Verona's Romeo and Juliet to Venice's famed Casanova, there's no doubt that they've got it going on when it comes to amore!
top selling wines of 2014Full of Sangiovese's fresh florals, plum mixed with red cherry flavor and a good bit of warm spice, this medium-bodied wine enjoys balance and well-woven tannins.
19 crimes wine contest

At a mere $12 a pop and enjoying wide distribution, this particular wine from Tuscany is a winner with aged cheese (think Parmesan), tomato-based...
best red wine nz This wine hails from the Asti DOCG in Italy's famed Piedmont region.
how late can you buy wine in georgiaDerived from 100% Muscat grapes - this is a fresh, inviting sparkler capable of handling an ultra rich cheese-cake or going solo as an afternoon apertif. Let the aromas of honeysuckle and the flavors of ripe peaches and a splash of candied pear dazzle amidst the light sparkle of this authentic Moscato. While, probably not the first choice for a wine to accompany a rich chocolate dessert, it is certainly up for the challenge... A stunning, single vineyard Barolo, as always built on the Nebbiolo grape, expect this wine to engage your senses from expressive aromatic start to well-developed finish.

Cherry, black licorice, tobacco leaves, and mocha notes all swirl together in a heady mix of foundational, terroir-driven fruit and oak-induced spice supported by supple tannins and gorgeous balance. A well-calibrated dance of both power and elegance make this particular Barolo an incredible delight and one that will manage... Looking for a rich, red wine from Piedmont, but don't have the time (or cash) to wait on the region's famed Barolo to mature? Then check out this classic, well-made and well-priced 2010 Barbaresco from Beni Di Batasiolo, an Italian winery under the Boisset Family Estate umbrella, crafted from the famed Nebbiolo grape - maker of both Barolo and Barbaresco wine. Expect floral rose notes and black licorice to dominate the aromas with an earthy backdrop and subtle fruit.On the palate, black... Frescobaldi's CastelGiocondo's Brunello is a stunning example of what Tuscany's Montalcino region is known and loved for, year in and year out. This Brunello has enjoyed basking in oak for 3 years and affords consumers a wine with excellent aging potential.

A first glance reveals a deep ruby color in the glass, and the nose carries robust ripe fruit - dominated by dark cherry and plum surrounded by violet floral tones. The palate profile yields a full-bodied red wine with dense... A lively, 100% Pinot Grigio with clean, crisp flavors of citrus fruits and Granny Smith apple from Italy's Veneto region, this decidedly dry white wine makes a remarkable pairing partner with antipasto plates, goat cheese themes and all kinds of seafood inspired pasta dishes. Made from Veneto's Garganega grape, this particular Pieropan Soave is a white wine that brings a refreshing slice of pear and citrus to the palate with mineral-driven character and bright, well balanced acidity. Intended to drink young, Soave can surprise with its willingness to age well.Italy produces some of the best wines in the world, but you don't have to be an expert to enjoy Italian wines that are both affordable and delicious. This list of ten wines from Italian producers offers variety, history, and flavor.

Each one is perfect for numerous occasions, but you should certainly try them all before you die. Oh, and did I mention that you don't have to break the bank to procure these Italian gems? They are all available under $20, so head to the wine store and get to sippin'. RELATED: Red Wines to Drink Instead of Pinot NoirRELATED: 12 French Wines to Try Before You DieRELATED: The Best Wines For Booze DrinkersTake a chance: there's more to wine than lose in the land of rich diversity, promises Jonathan Ray Some of the best wines I have ever drunk were Italian. Unfortunately, so were some of the worst. Because of this, grappling with Italian wines can leave one frustrated. A sip of silky-smooth Sassicaia can be heaven; raw, acidic Pinot Grigio can be hell. Italy is confusing, too, with more than 300 different grape varieties. Even well-known wines such as Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano can be baffling: the one named after Montepulciano the grape, the other after Montepulciano the town.

Why take the risk with an unfamiliar Radici Fiano di Avellino, say, when you can play safe with a more recognisable Australian Chardonnay? But that, in a way, is the joy of Italy. With so many different grape types grown in such wildly diverse regions, from the mountains of the Alto Adige in the north to sun-baked Sicily in the south, there's a wine for everyone. No other country can boast such variety. Yes, Cabernet Sauvignon has reared its head - spectacularly so in Tuscany - but the real fun is in discovering a wine that is unique to a given part of Italy and speaks of the land it is from. Gambero Rosso, publisher of the definitive annual Italian wine guide, recently held its inaugural Top Italian Wines Roadshow in London and featured more than 200 wines from a diverse group of some 50 producers. The aim was to show how far Italian wines have come over the past decade and how exciting they now are. If you take the trouble to look and are prepared for the odd disappointment, this beguiling country still merits the name Enotria Tellus - "Land of Wine".

THE TOP TEN ITALIANS 2006 Gran Sasso Pecorino Terre di Chieti, 13.5% vol (£7.99, as part of a mixed case; Majestic) Not just a cheese, Pecorino is also a white grape variety enjoying a revival in the Marche and Abruzzo regions. This has a lemony, nutty character and is a fascinating alternative to the all-too-familiar Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. Try it with seafood salad or pasta alla vongole. 2005 Canaletto Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 13% vol (£4.99; Sainsbury's) This robust and full-flavoured red from Abruzzo in central Italy is fantastic value and a worthy winner of a gold medal and trophy at the 2007 International Wine Challenge. Made from hand-picked Montepulciano grapes, the wine is full of vibrant damson and plum fruit and is just the thing with steaming bowls of spag bol. Bellavista Franciacorta Cuvée, 12% vol (£22; Valvona & Crolla 0131 556 6066, Tanners 01743 234 500, Stanton Wine Co 01386 852 501, Arte Bianca 01892 510 554) This Champagne-method sparkler from Lombardy is a crisp yet fruity blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero, and completely scrumptious.

Aged for two years before bottling, it is marked by a charming peachiness and makes an absurdly fine aperitif. 2000 Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Tenuta San Guido, 13.5% vol (£1,070 per case of 12; Armit 020 7908 0655) One of the original "Super Tuscans" and, quite simply, one of the great wines of the world. A stunningly crafted blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, marked by voluptuous blackcurrant fruit and soft, silky tannins, it is best savoured with dishes such as prime rib of beef or saddle of lamb. 2004 Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico, 13.5% vol (£12.99; Wimbledon Wine Cellar 020 8540 9979, Denby Dale Wines 01484 865 222) Owned by American Frank Grace, Il Molino di Grace is an organic, sustainable estate near Panzano in Chianti producing fascinating wines. This delightfully classy red has buckets of intense plummy Sangiovese fruit and a lingering finish. Try it with herb-encrusted leg of lamb. 2007 San Angelo Toscana Pinot Grigio, 12.5% vol (£7.99, as part of a mixed case;

Majestic) If only all Italian Pinot Grigio was as good as this. From Castello Banfi in Tuscany, rather than the cooler regions of northern Italy more associated with the grape, this is rounded and supple, with both tropical fruit and a lean acidity. It makes a fine aperitif, but is equally good with a plate of fritto misto or mushroom risotto. 2006 La Segreta Rosso, Cantina Planeta, 13.5% vol (£9.25; Noel Young 01223 566 744, Christopher Piper Wines 01404 814 139, Carluccio's Delicatessens 020 7580 3050) From Sicily, this is a feisty blend of local Nero d'Avola (50%), Merlot (25%), Syrah (20%) and Cabernet Franc (5%), full of jammy redcurrant and raspberry fruit and soft tannins. Enjoy it with meaty pasta dishes or bangers and mash. 2005 Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese, 13.5% vol (£8.99; Oddbins, Tesco) Something of a curiosity, and utterly delicious. A red wine, made from local Veronese varieties such as Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, which is re-fermented with a small amount of semi-dried grapes.