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You can’t go wrong with pizza when it’s on the menu. Even if “pizza night” seems casual, you can still make it a memorable occasion. Simply add wine. The flavors in your favorite pizza will be enhanced by the proper glass of wine. Plus, it’ll add a touch of class to your dinner. But, what wine pairs with pizza?
This guide will help you choose the right bottle of wine to go with your favorite pizza, whether you’re ordering in from your favorite brick oven or making your own with hand-picked ingredients. It’s all about the toppings when it comes to picking a wine to go with your favorite slice.
Tomatoes can be difficult to combine with wine, and they’re frequently the prominent taste on pizza. So, how do you choose a wine? A somewhat acidic Italian red wine, such as Chianti or Barbera, is usually a safe pick. You may also try Syrah or a GMS blend, which are medium-bodied reds with medium or moderate tannins.
If you enjoy your pizza with meat, a red wine with higher tannins, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, is a good choice. Oh, and what about white wine connoisseurs? Don’t be concerned. Certain pizzas pair well with a crisp white wine such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Rosé goes well with vegetarian pies as well.
IS IT BETTER TO GO RED OR WHITE?
Pizza is traditionally defined as a thin, crispy dough foundation topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese. These components are taken into account while selecting the best wines for pizza. While full-bodied white wines, as well as Champagne or sparkling wine, can be wonderful with the correct pizza, you should choose red wine in general. Regardless of the toppings, pizza is always a hearty, substantial meal that favors red over white.
Take a look at our Guide to the Best White Wines to Pair with Italian Food
MODERATE TANNIN AND HIGH ACIDITY
After deciding on the color, the fat content of the melted cheese must be considered. You’ll need a wine with medium-high to high acidity to counteract this. Then there are the tomatoes. Because tomatoes have a lot of acidities, you’ll need a wine with a lot of acidities. Avoid tannin-rich reds, as the combination of tomato flavor and a lot of tannins can be rather metallic.
I also prefer the wine to have enough juicy fruit tastes as well as a savory/earthy component to complement the flavors of the toppings as well as the crispy dough foundation.
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PAIRINGS OF PIZZA AND WINE
Pizza With Arugula And Prosciutto
This delicious pizza is ideal for a romantic evening. If there’s tomato sauce involved, red wine like Chianti is the way to go. If you don’t want to use tomato sauce, a white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc will suffice.
Pizza With Bacon
Bacon is the best topping for almost anything, so it’s no surprise that it works great on pizza. Furthermore, either red or white wine goes nicely with this sumptuous pizza. With a sparkling wine like Cava or a Spanish red wine like Garnacha or Tempranillo, enjoy bacon pizza. Read more about The Best Wines To Pair With Grilled Chicken Dishes here.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
BBQ chicken pizza is extremely popular almost everywhere else, despite the fact that it is considered sacrilegious in Little Italy. Pair a red wine like Malbec or Touriga Nacional, a Portuguese red wine with aromas of blueberry and plum, with sweet and smokey BBQ pizza.
Cheese Pizza
A medium-bodied red wine like Barbera – a classic Italian wine with flavors of tart cherry and dry herbs – or a red Rhône mix, termed GSM blend, goes well with regular pizza with cheese and tomato sauce. This French red, made with Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, offers deep notes of black fruit and rosemary.
Eggplant Parmesan Pizza
This specialty pizza, made with breaded fried eggplant, goes nicely with a light- to medium-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir, Chianti, or Barbera. The wine, with its bright fruit notes and slight earthiness, brings out the best in this rich, delicious pie.
Hawaiian Pizza
Hawaiian pizza pairs well with white wine, which may come as a surprise. The salty ham and sweet pineapple on your favorite tropical slice go well with off-dry Riesling. If you like red wine, a little sweet and effervescent Lambrusco or a dark and smokey Zinfandel are good choices.
Margherita Pizza
Margherita pizza pairs well with a medium-bodied red like Grenache or Barbera because of the fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, and thick-cut buffalo mozzarella. You might also serve this handcrafted pie with a dry rosé.
Meat Lovers Pizza
Carnivores, take note! Meat lovers’ pizza, as you may know, can have a range of toppings such as meatballs, sausage, and pepperoni. A medium- to full-bodied red wine, such as Chianti, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, or Zinfandel, goes nicely with this hefty pizza.
Mushroom Pizza
Mushroom pizza is hearty and savory and goes nicely with a light-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. You may also try Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc, both of which are medium-bodied white wines.
Pepperoni Pizza
Pepperoni pizza goes great with a medium- to full-bodied red wine like Sangiovese, Nero d’Avola, or Cabernet Franc on game days and movie evenings. These reds all work well with tomato sauce and red meat because they have vivid fruit notes, a dash of spice, and medium tannins.
Pizza With Pesto
While fresh tomatoes and mozzarella are frequently found on this pizza, the pesto sauce is the star. Pair pesto pizza with a light-bodied white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner that has herbaceous flavors.
Sausage Pizza
Because sausage is frequently flavored with fragrant spices like fennel, anise, thyme, and oregano, a wine with a slightly savory note can be a good match for a sausage pizza. Try Syrah, a South African red wine with notes of black cherry, fig, and olive, or Pinotage, a South African red wine with notes of black cherry, fig, and olive.
Veggie Pizza
If your salad pizza is light on the toppings, such as peppers, olives, and onions, use a dry rosé or light-bodied white wine. With green vegetables like spinach or broccoli, a crisp Sauvignon blanc with citrus flavors and a hint of grass or bell pepper is a fantastic match.
White Pizza
This deliciously creamy pizza goes great with a glass of white wine. You can pair this pizza with a light, vividly acidic white wine like Sauvignon blanc or sparkling Cava, or a creamy white wine like Chardonnay to match the creaminess. If you prefer red wine, a light red like Pinot Noir is a good choice.
Summary: What Wine Pairs With Pizza?
You can’t go wrong with pizza when it’s on the menu. Even if “pizza night” seems casual, you can still make it a memorable occasion. Simply add wine. The flavors in your favorite ‘za will be enhanced by the proper glass of wine. Plus, it’ll add a touch of class to your dinner.
This guide will help you choose the right bottle of wine to go with your favorite pizza, whether you’re ordering in from your favorite brick oven or making your own with hand-picked ingredients. It’s all about the toppings when it comes to picking a wine to go with your favorite slice.
Tomatoes can be difficult to combine with wine, and they’re frequently the prominent taste on pizza. So, how do you choose a wine? A somewhat acidic Italian red wine, such as Chianti or Barbera, is usually a safe pick. You may also try Syrah or a GMS blend, which are medium-bodied reds with medium or moderate tannins.
If you enjoy your pizza with meat, red wine with higher tannins, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, is a good choice. Oh, and what about white wine connoisseurs? Don’t be concerned. Certain pizzas pair well with a crisp white wine such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Rosé goes well with vegetarian pies as well.
If you have any questions about What Wine Pairs With Pizza? contact me today.