Ten Excellent Tuscan Wines Under 35 Euro

10 Excellent Tuscan Wines Under €35

I love Tuscan wines. I love the famous ones, of course—but I have a real soft spot for the lesser-known bottles, the hidden gems that quietly overdeliver. I also love good value, which is something Tuscany does surprisingly well.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not going to say no to a glass of Masseto or Brunello Case Basse. But what really excites me are wines made from indigenous grapes, by small wineries—or sometimes larger producers doing something genuinely thoughtful and well executed—at prices that still feel reasonable. Despite rising costs in recent years, Tuscany continues to offer characterful wines under €35 that punch well above their weight.

These, incidentally, are the wines most Italians actually drink. An €80 bottle might come out for New Year’s Eve, but for a regular dinner with friends? Much more likely something in this range.

So I thought it might be fun to share 10 Tuscan wines under €35 that I genuinely like and would happily bring to any dinner. This is not an exhaustive list—there are many others I could include, and I probably will in a future post. I’ve started with wines that are relatively easy to find; it’s hard to go wrong with these. A follow-up post dedicated to more obscure gems is definitely in the works.

And if tasting wine with context, stories, and a local perspective sounds appealing, you’re always welcome to join one of my guided tastings—especially if you’re curious to dive deeper into rare local varieties and lesser-known appellations (very much my specialty).

1. Chianti Classico DOCG – Fontodi

Fontodi is one of the most respected producers in the Conca d’Oro of Panzano. Their organic approach and consistency are impressive, and while they’re best known for high-end wines like Flaccianello della Pieve, their entry-level bottles are excellent too.

Style: 100% Sangiovese (part of a growing trend toward letting the grape speak for itself). This is a serious Chianti Classico: deep, structured, and elegant, with notes of dark cherry, violet, and red currant. It drinks like a wine that should cost much more.

2. Castello di Monsanto – Chianti Classico Riserva

Excellent wine, excellent value. I had the 2021 just last week and enjoyed it immensely—the minerality, the freshness, the elegant structure. Fabrizio Bianchi, together with his wife Giuliana, transformed the castle his father purchased into a true benchmark estate. Today, their daughter Laura continues the tradition.

It’s also a fascinating place to visit, with cellars carved directly into the rock.

Style: 90% Sangiovese, with Canaiolo and Colorino. Elegant and balanced, with notes of dried herbs, tobacco, and red currants.

3. Il Bruciato – Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori)

Produced by the Antinori family—the 27-generation dynasty of Italian wine—at their Bolgheri estate. While its “big brother” Guado al Tasso costs around €140, Il Bruciato comes in under €30 and is, in my opinion, an outstanding deal. I honestly don’t know many people who don’t like this wine.

Style: A modern Bolgheri blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. Lush, velvety, and smooth, with ripe red fruit, sweet spice, and rounded tannins from at least eight months in barrique.

4. Bolgheri Rosso DOC – Podere Guado al Melo

Fruity, gently spicy, velvety, and supple, this Bolgheri Rosso is made from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Guado al Melo is a family-run winery in the hills of Bolgheri, near the coast, founded in 1998 by Annalisa and Michele Scienza.

Their wines express both modern Bolgheri and the territory’s ancient soul, guided by a deep respect for the Genius Loci. The underground, bio-architectural winery also houses a wine museum.

If you want to splurge, their top wine, Atis, is beautiful and award-winning (not included here—it’s closer to €65).

5. Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Col d’Orcia

One of the oldest and largest organic estates in Montalcino, Col d’Orcia is a consistently excellent choice. The entire estate—vineyards, olive groves, fields, even the gardens—is farmed organically, with a strong focus on research.

Their flagship Brunello Poggio al Vento regularly wins awards, but even their Rosso or classic Brunello offers tremendous quality. I recently tasted the 2020 Brunello in a guided tasting, and it was a crowd favorite.

Style: Very classic and balanced. Aromas of blackberry and raspberry layered with spice and subtle oak. Bright, floral, elegant, and never over-extracted—showing the pure red-berry character of Sangiovese Grosso.

6. Vermentino – Marina Romin

I love a good Vermentino, especially in summer, and this is one of my favorites. The only reason it’s not better known is geography: the estate is in Terricciola, in the Pisa hills—an ancient wine area dating back to Etruscan times, but less fashionable than Chianti, Brunello, or Bolgheri.

Founded in 1973 by sisters Paola and Donatella Palazzi and taken over in 2017 by Marina and Ivanhoe Romin, the estate has been organic for nearly 50 years and works exclusively with native varieties, vinifying in concrete.

Style: Bright golden yellow, with aromas of yellow peach, quince, and wild herbs. Fresh and lively on the palate, with vibrant acidity and a subtle saline finish.

7. Chianti – Tenuta di Ghizzano

This is a true hidden treasure. Produced under the I.G.T. Costa Toscana and DOC Terre di Pisa appellations, it’s a great introduction to the wines of the Pisa hills—an area that offers tremendous value and is, in my opinion, the next big thing.

Tenuta di Ghizzano is deeply involved in promoting its territory and collaborates closely with other producers and institutions. This entry-level wine is such a lovely discovery that I often include it in my Pisa food tours.

Style: Mainly Sangiovese with a small addition of Merlot, sourced from younger vineyards. Fresh, fruit-forward, and easy to drink, with a soft, generous expression of Sangiovese—exactly the kind of wine you want on the table more often.

8.Chianti Rùfina Riserva DOCG – Selvapiana

Rùfina is a smaller, cooler sub-zone of Chianti, located in the hills northeast of Florence, and it happens to be one of my favorites. Selvapiana is the reference producer here, known for wines with remarkable longevity and a bright, almost alpine sense of acidity.

Style: Focused and elegant rather than powerful, this is a wine about precision and balance. Expect flavors of wild raspberry and cherry layered with subtle notes of vanilla and tobacco. In my opinion, it offers excellent value and is a genuinely beautiful wine to drink. Their top bottling, from the Bucerchiale vineyard (Chianti Rùfina Riserva Vigneto Bucerchiale), is particularly age-worthy and well worth seeking out.

Would you like to explore the Tuscan countryside, visit exceptional wineries, and learn more about Tuscan food and wine? Book a private wine tour tailored to your interests.

Prefer a guided tasting in an enoteca—or in the privacy of your villa or Airbnb? That can absolutely be arranged. Contact us for details.

See you in Tuscany,

Ariela