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Inexpensive Red Wine to Go With Red Pasta Sauce

I am looking for some suggestions of inexpensive red wines to go with red pasta sauce and whole wheat spaghetti.

I usually add 3/4 head (6-8 cloves) of fresh minced garlic, 1/2 fresh onion, and 2-3 tbsp of olive oil with some Prego Roasted Garlic pasta sauce. I like to save some of the garlic until the sauce is done because I enjoy a slight taste of raw garlic.

The wine that seems to go the best is Santa Cristina Sangiovese. Bella Sera Sangiovese starts out okay but its aftertaste does not seem to be able to keep up with the sauce. I have tried some cabernets: Vina Tarapaca Maipo Valley, Mondavi Private Selection, Bealieu Vineyard Napa Valley. The Tarapaca was good, the Mondavi was okay, and the BV was a little bit overpowering.

Does any one have any suggestions? If you can't tell already, I am a student on a budget and would prefer to stay under $15 per bottle.

Thanks in advance!

Reply to
Remons into Remonade
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With Italian dishes in red sauce it's probably best to stick with red Italian wines. There are lots of good Chiantis on the market in the under $15 range, and Italy has had a run of at least six good, consecutive vintages (concluding with 2000 IIRC). Trader Joe's has the 2000 Villa Orsini for $5, and it's quite drinkable. The 1999 is a bit better, but I think it's all gone.

Tom S

Reply to
Tom S

That's my general attitude, also. Although a good acidic white can do well with tomato sauce (especially if using fresh tomatoes). But OP wants red, anyway.

If you like the Santa Christina, you might also try some other Tuscan Sangiovese-based wines like Monte Antico. For a little more ($10-12) you can get Chianti Classicos like San Felice or Viticcio.

Lots of folks like the Falesco Vitiano (Umbria), I have generally found it a little soft/low-acid for tomato sauce.

Another option might be Barbera.

Some other general areas to try might include grenache-based wines from Languedoc or Rhone valley, or possibly Spain (Borsao and Vina Alarba are 2 names to try).

Slightly unusual suggestion- try the Cline California Zinfandel or Syrah. Both tend to have a little more acidic zip than most inexpensive CA red wines. I'd stay away from most Cabernets or Merlots, beyond acidity issues I don't think flavor profiles tend to match well with red sauce.

Dale

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Reply to
Dale Williams

I've always been a fan of Barbera with red sauce. You can still find a few in the $10-$15 range. Anything from northern Italy from 2000 or

2001 in your price range is worth trying. Some big name producers - Corino, Parusso, Manzone - have been available in the $12-$15 range around here (Boston), but with the decline of the dollar the days of "cheap Italian red" are numbered. (You might also try a Dolcetto from the same producers)

Peter

Reply to
PM

I recommend a decent Zinfandel, not too expensive, like the Cline Ancient Vines.

Marc

Reply to
Marc Branch

I like the Santa Cristina but it might be fun to try the (generally available in my area) Monte Antico. Thanks for the suggestion.

We're having an red Italian dish tonight. Went to the cellar to get a bottle of Santa Cristina ... and it was all gone! :-( I was in a crisis until you and Marc Branch suggested a Zin. I have some bottles of Cline Ancient Vines Zin going "way back" to 1997. Might be a good night to pop a cork on one of those.

Cheers, Dick

Reply to
Dick R.

Never tried the Cline Zinfandel before, so I tried it last night (not with tomato sauce, but a chicken dish with tomatoes and kalamata olives...) Very nice, not as in-your-face sweet as some Zins. And only $8.59 at my favorite nearby wine shop! Thanks for the suggestion!

Cherie

Reply to
cherie

Hi, try may be Terrilogio Rosso di toscana.has the same blend like the S. Cristina plus about 10% Cabernet i think.It should not retail for more then $10.

Reply to
djdko

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