10 Outstanding Wines You've Never Heard Of (But Need to Try)

So the other day I went to the wine store and spent like 10 minutes standing there staring at labels and I walked out with the same bottle that I always buy. Sound familiar? Even a wine expert can get stuck in the comfort zone. But here's the thing, while everyone's buying that same old trusty bottle of Cabernet and Chardonnay, you can be buying incredible wines sitting right next to them that cost less and often taste better. And today I'm going to show you 10 of them. We're talking about wines that sell between $20 and $30 a bottle but they drink twice the price. So for each wine I'll tell you what makes it special, why it's still under the radar, and exactly what you can expect. And as you're watching I'm curious to know which ones you already know about and what wines you think I missed. Honestly it was hard to narrow this list just down to 10 wines. If you're a fan of bold, complex red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a must-have for your repertoire. We're headed to Sicily for a grape called Nero Diavola which is one of Italy's top 10 grapes. So why isn't it more well known? Firstly Sicilian wine has long been devoted to Marsala. Have you ever heard of chicken Marsala? That Marsala. Secondly the long-standing presence of the mafia, even as recently as 2017, trying to drive winemakers off their vineyard land makes things difficult, to say the least. The best Nero Diavola come from estate vineyards, and age an oak to exude cherry, black plum, tobacco, and red pepper notes with ripe layered tannins. I recently tried a bottle from around Uriche and it was one of the best Nero Diavola I've tasted and it cost only a little over 30 dollars a bottle. Can't get enough of those inky Syrah wines? Well Portugal has a secret you need to know about. We're headed to Portugal's Valley where Torre Ganascianel reigns as the country's finest red wine. So why haven't more people discovered this wine? Firstly most of these grapes historically go into port wine, which is a sweet fortified red wine and not a dry red wine. Secondly after the devastating phylloxera crisis of the late 1800s, farmers nearly abandoned it because it produces such tiny grapes and extremely low yields. The best Torre Ganascianel wines come from old hillside vineyards and showcase intense flavors of blueberry, violet, plum, with a hint of mint. The wines are incredibly concentrated and powerful with really grippy tannins which will help them age decades. I recently tried a bottle from the Dou region that blew me away. You can expect to spend around 20 dollars for decent wines, but maybe upwards of 60 dollars for an absolutely outstanding mind-bending example. I swear to you it'll taste twice the price. Craving a wine with a little more soul? There's an ancient grape in southern France that's about to rock your world. We're in France's Languedoc region where Carignan was once the most planted grape in the country and yet somehow it's gotten lost in the shadows. Firstly Carignan got a bad rap in the mid-1900s when farmers over planted it for high yields creating oceans of mediocre bulk wine. And then the European Union had a vine pull scheme in the 1980s literally paying farmers to rip out their Carignan vines. Talk about a rough break. But from old vines, especially those over 20 years old, Carignan shows flavors of dried cranberry, black cherry, complemented with tobacco leaf, baking spices, and these subtle notes of cured meat. These wines burst with fresh acidity and refined tannins. We recently had an old vine bottle from Monsant Spain that blew everyone away and at 25 dollars a bottle it drinks like a wine twice the price. Are you obsessed with rich juicy Malbec? Well Italy's got something for you. We're in the rugged hills of Abruzzo where Montepulciano stands as Italy's second most planted red grape and yet somehow it's still flying under the radar for most wine drinkers. Firstly it got stuck with a confusing identity crisis. People kept mixing it up with Tuscany's vino nobile de Montepulciano which is actually made with Sangiovese. Then came its reputation as just another pizza wine with producers churning out simple cheap bottles that didn't show what this grape can really do. But when grown on hillside vineyards and aged thoughtfully in oak, Montepulciano reveals its true characters with layers of black plum, boysenberry, baking spices backed by cocoa and dried herbs. The best examples show off an inky color and velvety tannins. I recently tried a Montepulciano from a single vineyard in California that proves this wine means serious business and for the price I was astonished. You know someone who loves silky Pinot Noir? Southern France has a wine will make Pinot fans weak in the knees. Here in Southern France Cinco thrives as one of the region's most versatile grapes and yet somehow it remains under the radar. Firstly it got pigeonholed as just a blending grape and used in countless rosés where it really has never featured as a red wine. Then came its reputation for being overly productive with farmers exploiting high yields and you know what that means? Lackluster assed wines. But when old vines are properly managed Cinco is super vibrant with flavors of strawberry, raspberry, morello cherry complemented with white pepper spice and a haunting violet perfume. The best examples show a silky texture and actually very light tannins. I recently tried a bottle from a 70 year old vineyard in Barossa, Australia and it completely changed my perspective on this grape and at $25 a bottle it's the kind of thing you would expect would cost twice, at least twice the price. Are you dreaming of Shiraz? Well South Africa's signature grape is about to blow your mind. We're in South Africa where Pinotage was born as a surprising cross between Pinot Noir and Cinco yet somehow this unique grape still raises eyebrows among some wine drinkers. Firstly it got a terrible reputation in the 80s and 90s when producers made cheap commercial wines that often smelled like nail polish remover. Then came the challenge of winemaking itself. Pinotage is actually incredibly tricky to make while leading many producers to give up on quality and focus on quantity. But when carefully managed with restricted yields and proper winemaking techniques, Pinotage reveals intense flavors of blackberry, plum sauce, sweet pipe tobacco complemented with unique notes of rubos tea and bacon fat. The best examples show bold sweet finishing tannins with a delightfully smoky character. I recently tried a bottle from Stellenbosch that ages in French oak for 18 months and at $26 it's a crazy good deal. Did you think Chardonnay is the only chameleon grape in white wine? France's most versatile white grape is about to blow your mind. We're in the Loire Valley where Chenin Blanc has been made since the middle ages. Still this incredibly adaptable grape is a mystery to most of us. Firstly it tends to get typecast as a sweet wine grape and hidden away in dessert wine sections. Then came its identity crisis in the new world where producers would make bland neutral wines that didn't really showcase what Chenin Blanc can do. But when carefully managed, especially from old vines, Chenin Blanc reveals layers of apple, quince, passion fruit complemented with notes of ginger, honey and jasmine. The best examples have laser sharp acidity with a full-bodied texture and they'll age beautifully. I recently tried a bottle from Vouvray that showcased everything that's special about this grape and at $25 a bottle it's the kind of wine that you would expect would cost 50, 60 or maybe more if it was Chardonnay. Do you love Chenin Blanc? Well Italy has a white wine grape that you need to know. We're on the island of Sardinia where Vermentino is the region's signature white grape making up 75% of the vineyards here. But Sardinia Blanc still has a much more famous reputation than Vermentino. How come? Firstly it got relegated to being just another Italian white wine despite having the same refreshing qualities that has made Sardinia Blanc famous. Then came its identity crisis. While Sardinia Blanc built a clear brand reputation, Vermentino struggled with multiple names and styles across different regions and it's really hard to understand. But when grown in coastal vineyards, Vermentino reveals vibrant layers of lime, grapefruit, green apple complemented with distinct crushed rocks and a salty minerality note. The best examples have high acidity with an intriguing oily texture on the mid palate and a slightly bitter green almond finish that set it apart from Sauvignon Blanc. I had a bottle from Sardinia's Galleria region that showed everything special about Vermentino and at $25 a bottle you will not believe that it's one of Sardinia's finest wines. Does Pinot Grigio taste good but leave you wanting more? This Spanish coastal white wine is what you've been missing. We're in Spain's Galicia region where Albarrino thrives along the cool rainy Atlantic coast. It's often better than Pinot Grigio at the same price and yet it's still very unknown about. Why? Firstly, it's been historically confined to Spain and Portugal and only recently gaining international attention as more regions plant it. Secondly, it was often blended into Portuguese Vino Verde which masks Albarrino's true potential as a single varietal wine. But when grown in Galicia's granite soils, Albarrino reveals bright flavors of lemon zest, peach, apricot, complemented by honeysuckle with this sort of salty minerality. The best examples have mouth-watering acidity with a surprisingly weighty mid-palate. I recently tried a bottle from Rias Baixas that I'm crazy for and at $20ish a bottle, I will always be keeping this one stocked close by. Most wine lovers think white burgundy is the only age-worthy white. Well, the Rhone Valley has a power couple that's going to change your mind. We're in France's northern Rhone Valley where Marsan and Roussan have been inseparable for centuries and yet somehow this dynamic duo remains under the radar. Firstly, these grapes got overshadowed by more famous whites like Chardonnay despite their incredible ability to age for 10 to 20 years. Then came the challenge of growing them, especially Roussan, which is notoriously difficult to cultivate and prone to various vineyard problems. But when blended together, they create magic. Marsan brings structure and rich texture while Roussan adds elegant aromatics like pear, honey, and flowers. The best examples show citrus and stone fruit when young and develop these fascinating nutty quince notes with age. I recently tried a bottle, a Saint-Joseph Blanc from the northern Rhone that showcased everything special about this blend and at $35, it's a serious white wine but still a steal compared to white burgundy. So there you have it, 10 wines that deserve way more attention than they currently get and what I love about these wines is they're not just alternatives to the usual suspect, they're unique grapes from unique places in the world. Once you start exploring these alternatives, you'll quickly discover what wine professionals already know. The most popular wines aren't always the most interesting. These lesser-known varieties give us a whole new world of flavors and textures to explore. And speaking of drinking like a pro, if you want to know how it's done, I have a super awesome updated tasting video so just grab a glass of red wine and follow along. Finally, I have to ask what wines did you already know and which varieties that are you super into that I totally failed to mention? Let me know in the comments. And until next time, happy tasting, peace out. And this, this is Montepulciano.