The Bold-Tasting Italian Rival Bottle That's Cheaper Than Expensive Red Wines

Some Italian reds slide easily into special-occasion territory, at least when it comes to price. That's especially true of wines from the Veneto region, which often use winemaking techniques that concentrate sugars, aroma, and flavors. But there's an easier way to get some of the same rich character without spending nearly as much. Allegrini Palazzo della Torre is a Veneto red that typically lands just over the $20 mark, but boasts a considerably more expensive taste due to its ripe fruit, ample spice, and velvety texture. 

Tasting Table previously placed Palazzo della Torre among 15 cheap red wines that make great alternatives to expensive bottles, pointing to it as a value-minded way to explore the richer style associated with northeastern Italy. The wine is produced from grape varieties closely associated with the Veneto region; the 2022 vintage, for example, comprises a precise blend of 40% Corvina Veronese, 30% Corvinone, and 30% Rondinella. 

Italian wines and grapes differ considerably by geographic region, as do the processes that define them. One important approach that gives Palazzo della Torre its depth is the use of partially dried grapes. A percentage of the harvested fruit goes through what's known as appassimento, a drying process that concentrates sugars, flavors, and aromas before fermentation. Allegrini notes that 70% of the grapes get fermented normally, while the remaining 30% go through the drying process prior to vinification, before the two wines are blended and aged.

The flavor profile of Allegrini Palazzo della Torre helps explain why it's a win for drinkers who lean toward more expensive Italian reds. Notes from the winemaker, as well as from professional tasters, point out that recent vintages of this particular wine show plenty of ripe plum and cherry, along with more complex notes of chocolate, coffee, licorice, earthy forest-floor character, as well as spices and even hints of floral and citrus. It also balances acidity with sweetness for the perfect structure. 

That combination and versatility of flavor allows Palazzo della Torre to sit well at the dinner table, albeit at the more refined end of everyday table wines. In some vintage releases, such as 2020, the winemaker has suggested pairing this wine with any number of Italian dishes, including risotto, lasagna, and gnocchi, or even cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano and Gorgonzola. It also works with pork and grilled meats in general, and even stand up well to rich sauces such as carbonara, ragu, and amatriciana. 

This isn't bargain-bin or so-called value red wine by any means, but it's still affordable compared to many bottles offering similar, dried-grape richness and complexity. Prices for Palazzo della Torre can vary by store, region, and vintage, but generally go for around $20 or up to about $25. By comparison, Allegrini's Amarone della Valpolicella Classico dries its grapes for three to four months before fermentation and currently sells for more than $90 per bottle at some major retailers, several times the typical price of Palazzo della Torre.