Spaghetti tonight? Try these reds – You need a few spaghetti-friendly wines to make the evening that much more interesting.

Whether you go to the trouble of making homemade Arrabbiata or Bolognese sauce, or you cheat and combine ground beef with your favorite commercial marinara, spaghetti is one of those go-to weeknight dish for many families.

That said, you need a few interesting spaghetti-friendly wines to make the evening that much more interesting.

Thankfully, solid under-$12 wines are available to pair with dishes like spaghetti, pizza and lasagna.
Here are two offbeat standouts: a Negroamaro from the southern Italian region of Puglia, and a Spanish Garnacha from the Calatayud region of northern Spain. The medium-bodied 2012 Luccarelli Negroamaro presents smooth, juicy fruit, soft tannins and a silky finish. This is a wine that embraces food.

The 2012 Altovinum Garnacha is also medium-bodied and features gentle plum notes and a supple texture throughout. Both wines are very drinkable and pairable, even with spicy red sauces.