The 7 Best Red Wines From Italy to Buy Right Now
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Italy is one of the world’s top wine-producing countries. It is home to over 20 wine regions that are further divided into more than 300 denominations. It also grows more than 350 recognized indigenous grapes, as well as those considered to be “international varieties” or “French varieties,” such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay, to name only a few.
The northern Piemonte region is renowned for its rolling hills and wines made from Nebbiolo grapes, with the highest expression of this grape known as Barolo. It is generally grown at high altitudes and yields full-bodied wines that are meat-friendly—think of grilled veal chops, steaks, or rack of lamb—and suited to rich pasta dishes.
In the center of the country, Tuscany produces Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico from Sangiovese grapes, as well as Super Tuscans from Sangiovese alone or a blend of international varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
Just north of Venice, the Veneto region is also known for excellent wines. Many of them are made from white grape varieties, but one of our all-time favorites is Amarone, a full-bodied red with excellent texture, depth, and mouthfeel.
Here are the seven best Italian red wines to drink now.
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Capanna 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Montalcino Tuscany
Image Credit: Capanna Giuseppe Cencioni and his two sons, Benito and Franco, founded Capanna in 1957, and they were one of the 25 original founders of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino in 1966. Today, Patrizio and Amedeo represent the next generation, and together they continue the family tradition of superb wine production. Full-bodied in the mid palate, this wine offers aromas and flavors of saddle leather, tobacco leaf, black raspberry, red plum, and pomegranate.
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Masi 2020 Costasera Amarone Classico Veneto
Image Credit: Masi The history of Masi winemaking began in 1772 when Giobatta Boscaini and his brothers took stewardship over the vineyards of Vaio dei Masi and began hauling grapes to the family winery in Gargagnago to make wine. It remained a family-run business until 2015, when Masi was listed on the AIM market of the Milan Stock Exchange and took the company public, but we are happy to report that they were able to retain the ethos and quality of exceptional wine production. Masi 2020 Costasera Amarone Classico has aromas of powdered cocoa, mocha, black plum, and black raspberry tart with flavors of baked fruits, plum, and blackberry.
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Allegrini 2020 Amarone Classico Veneto
Image Credit: Allegrini While the Allegrini family has been producing wines since the 16th century, it wasn’t until the 1960s that Giovanni Allegrini was credited with bringing these classic Veneto wines to the Americas. Today, the new generation, Francesco, Giovanni, Matteo, and Silvia, are continuing the family legacy of making quality wines with a classic feel. Ruby colored in the glass, this delightful Amarone has intense aromas of dark chocolate, freshly ground cinnamon, red plum, and dried cranberries that transition to flavors of red and black plum, cedar, vanilla, and dried cherry.
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Borgogno 2019 Barolo Cannubi Barolo Piedmont
Image Credit: Borgogno Borgogno has been making wines in Barolo since 1761, when Bartolomeo founded his eponymous winery, but only started exporting bottles to the United States in 1920. Since that time, over the past century, the name Borgogno has become synonymous with quality Barolo. The 2019 Cannubi is a stunning wine with aromas of new car leather, finely ground black pepper, and freshly picked cherries. On the palate, there are fine-grained tannins and flavors of Luxardo cherry, red plum, and dried Mediterranean herbs.
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Renato Ratti 2020 Marcenasco Barolo Barolo Piedmont
Image Credit: Ratti The name Renato Ratti has been well known in Barolo for over 50 years, and the Ratti Winery in La Morra has been well regarded for making exceptional wines in the Langhe district for decades as well. We’ve been big fans of Renato’s wines for years, and this vintage is no exception. The 2020 Marcenasco has aromas of black licorice, tobacco leaf, dried cherry, and crushed violet petals that transition to flavors of red and black fruits, anise fronds, cigar box, and finely ground black pepper.
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Ceretto 2020 Barolo Prapo Barolo Piedmont
Image Credit: Ceretto Ceretto has been making wine since the 1930s, when Riccardo Cerreto began producing wine from purchased grapes. Thirty years later, his sons, Bruno and Marcello, began purchasing land and mapping out the potential vineyard sites. Today, they remain a family-run business with a shared vision for the future. Deep ruby red in the glass, this delightful Prapo Barolo has aromas of tobacco leaf, cigar box, black plum, forest floor, and red raspberry with a touch of lifted pine needle. In the mid palate, it has flavors of red and black fruits, saddle leather, and a bit of sweet brown spices in the finish.
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G.D. Vajra 2021 Barolo Ravera Barolo Piedmont
Image Credit: G.D. Vajra G.D. Vajra is recognized as one of the earliest wineries in the Barolo region to utilize organic farming methods, working that way from as far back as 1971 when winemaker Aldo Vaira joined Italy’s oldest organic winemaking association. Today, Aldo and his wife are joined by their three children, who work together as a team to produce exceptional wines. Their 2021 Ravera Barolo has aromas of crushed flower petals, white pepper, cedar box, and red raspberry. It is soft in the mouth with elegant tannins and flavors of tobacco leaf, black plum, and a touch of brown baking spices in the finish.
