Pairing pizza and wines means finding the right balance between the two products to ensure that the flavors doesnt clash. Clashes between the two products happen when the acid in the tomato sauce of the pizza clashes with a heavy wine or when the greasiness of the pepperoni clashes with delicate white wine. To avoid these clashes, pair light wines with light pizzas and bold wines with bold pizzas.
By finding the right balance between the two products, the wine and pizza will work together rather than against each other. The first factor to consider when pairing wine and pizza is the sauce on the pizza. The acidity of the tomato sauce require a wine with similar acidity.
How to Pair Wine with Pizza
For instance, a pizza featuring San Marzano sauce pair well with Sangiovese wine due to the acidity of both products. Chianti Classico wine is another wine that works well with Margherita pizza due to the medium body of both products. You should serve Chianti Classico wines at around 60 degree.
For pizzas with heavier sauces or ingredient, wines with a higher body and tannin levels work better. A pizza with pepperoni contain grease and spice so a wine like Zinfandel works better. Because Zinfandel features medium tannins, it wont clash with the pepperoni.
Avoid using very oaky wines with pepperoni as the wine will dry you mouth. For BBQ chicken pizza, use Shiraz wine as the high levels of tannins in Shiraz wine will pair better with the smoky flavors in the pizza. Serve Shiraz wine at 64 degrees.
Not all pizzas have to be paired with red wine. Some of the best pairings for pizzas are white and sparkling wines. A Hawaiian pizza contain pineapple so an off-dry Riesling Kabinett works best.
Serve the wine chilled at 45 degrees as it will balance the flavors of the ham and pineapple on the pizza. A classic white pizza with ricotta cheese and herbs is a delicate pizza so use Pinot Grigio wine. Pinot Grigio wines are light and will allow you to taste the herbs on the pizza more better.
For pizza with prosciutto and arugula, use a sparkling wine like Prosecco Brut. The carbonation will help cut the saltiness of the prosciutto. Another ingredient in wines is tannins from the grape skins.
The tannins provides a sensation of dryness in the mouth. Wines with tannins work well with pizza because the tannins will cut the fat in the cheese and meat on the pizza. Pinot Noir wines with low tannin levels work well with mushrooms on the pizza.
Pinot Noir wines have a lower tannin level so they will not overpower the flavor of the mushrooms on the pizza. Serve Pinot Noir at 58 degrees. Barbera d’Alba wines has medium tannin levels and work well with quattro formaggi pizza.
The medium tannins will balance the fat content of the cheese on the pizza. Use Primitivo wine with high tannin levels with a Diavola pizza that contain spicy salami. The high tannins in Primitivo wine will stand up to the flavors of the spicy salami on the pizza.
Using wines with the incorrect amount of tannins will make the cheese taste heavy and the tomato sauce taste sourer on the pizza. Temperature is one of the last factor to consider when pairing wine and pizza. You have to manage the temperature of the wine to ensure the flavor is correct.
Serve red wine at room temperature but chill it slightly for 20 minutes before serving. You should serve white wines between 40 degrees and 50 degrees. Light red wine should be between 55 and 65 degrees.
Bold red wine should be served between 55 and 65 degrees. Do not serve Zinfandel wine too warm as it will ruin the flavor. Serve it cool so that you can taste the black pepper notes in the wine.
There are a few techniques to improve the dining experience when pairing wine and pizza. Swirl the wine in the glass to aerate the wine so that the aroma is more noticeable when drinking. For pizzas with fennel sausage, use Montepulciano wine as it has a medium grip that will work with the sausage.
Use sparkling wines like Prosecco to reset your palate in between bites of the cheesy pizza. For spicy pizzas, use an off-dry white wine so that the sugar in the wine will balance the heat of the spice in the pizza. To build your own intuition for wine and pizza pairings, look at the main ingredient in the pizza.
For meaty pizzas, choose bold wines such as Zinfandel and Shiraz. For vegetable and white pizzas, choose light wines such as Riesling, Pinot Grigio, and Prosecco. For pizzas with alot of tomato sauce, choose Italian red wines such as Chianti and Primitivo.
To avoid common mistakes, ensure that you chill your red wines. Do not pair heavy white wines with greasy pizzas. By ensuring that the weight of the wine match the weight of the pizza, youll have an enjoyable dining experience.