Inspiration
How to Choose Magical Pasta Wine Pairings
Date night dinner calls for a magical pasta wine pairing. How do you pick? Grab your wand, say the words “best wine to pair with pasta” and voila! Tips for all kinds of mood-making pairings have appeared below.
Red sauce, white sauce, pesto, broths — let’s find a magical wine pairing for your pasta.
Red Sauce Pasta Wine Pairing
The Quick 101:
The magic begins by pairing your wine color with your food color. From there, you’ll look at food acidity. Tomatoey red sauce has higher acidity, which translates to a wine that is also acidic. A more acidic wine is light and tart, it makes your mouth water, ruling out super sweet wines like Moscato. Look for something with low tannins, avoiding oaky wines like Cabernet and Bordeaux.
Wines to Try With Red Sauce:
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir
- Chianti
- Zinfandel
- Malbec
- Dry Rosé
Try Dry Rose with Linguine Cioppino
Try a Chianti with Spaghetti and Meatballs
Try Merlot with Vegetarian Baked Ziti
White Sauce Pasta Wine Pairing
The Quick 101:
Start with color matching again, then it’s time to have a little fun with your pasta-wine pairing. Match the mouthfeel of thick, creamy white sauces with full-bodied white wines. For lighter, whipped white sauces, use crisper, drier white wines. Or, do the opposite! Pair a crisper wine with a heavier sauce if you are looking for a delicate and refreshing balance to the richness of your meal. It’s your spell, after all.
Wines to Try With White Sauce:
- Riesling
- Chardonnay Blends
- Pinot Bianco
- Arneis
- Chilled Gavi
- Sparkling Rose
- Sauvignon Blanc
Try Chardonnay Blend with
Classic Fettuccine Alfredo
Try Pinot Bianco with Whipped Ricotta
Gemelli Alfredo
Try Sauvignon Blanc with Spaghetti Carbonara With Peas
Other Pasta and Wine Pairings
The Quick 101:
Pesto, broth, savory soy sauce. There’s a wine for it! Move beyond color matching to enhance the main flavor of your pasta dish through congruent or contrasting wines. Which is just a fancy way of saying either pair similar flavors (sweet with sweet) or opposite flavors (spicy dish with fruity wine).
Wines to Try With Pesto:
- Dry Chardonnay
- Sicilian Whites
- Pinot Noir
- Primitivo
Wines to Try With Asian-Inspired Dishes:
- Dry Riesling
- Dry Gavi
- Sauvignon Blanc
Wines to Try With Brothy Soup:
- Barbera
- Pinot Grigio
- Chardonnay
Try Sicilian White with
Creste di Gallo With Homemade
Kale Pesto
Try Sauvignon Blanc with
Angel Hair Lo Mein
Try Barbera with
Italian Wedding Soup
Congrats, you’re a pasta-wine pairing wizard! Embark upon the wine aisle with confidence. And be sure to share your pairing pics with us — submit your pics here.
