What is it that makes pizza go so well with wine? It’s one of those things that seems so wrong but feels so right. Pizza is often ordered on a whim at the end of the day when you just do not want to make dinner. While waiting for the pizza, why not go to the wine you have set aside and pick something to turn your meal into an experience? Pizza and Wine are the perfect match, whether alone, with family, or with friends.
One of my favorite pictures is of Julio Iglesias on his private plane with a bucket of KFC and a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothchild. There is something deceitfully pleasurable about pairing great wine with humble food. It breaks down all the preconceived barriers of elitism in the human experience and gives us a unique way to experience the best qualities of wine.
Creating a casual environment with high-quality products also removes the barriers of pretense, etiquette, and judgment while simultaneously communicating without words that this moment is special. It is a time and place to be together. This is a comfortable environment where people can let their hair down, and you can get to know them better as they are. So why not do this with pizza?
By the end of this article, you will be able to pair wine with any type of pizza, like a connoisseur.
The Science of Pizza and Wine Pairing
With pizza, you need something that will drive through the richness of the cheese and all the fantastic ingredients in the sauce. Wine rises to the occasion in this case. Often, you may find that a wine you do not like to drink on its own will turn into one of your favorites when you have it with a pizza!
When it’s broken down, you can say wine offers acidity, tannins, aromas, and alcohol. On its own, the balance of these components makes for a fantastic wine. But when these elements come out of balance, we can find the wine unappealing. That’s where pairing with food comes in.
The acidity, tannins, and fruity notes stand against the rich and savory pizza flavors. The acid and tannins also cleanse the palate to set up the next bite or sip. This makes the meal feel lighter…at least while eating it!
An overpowered tannic wine may become mouth-watering with a meat-lovers deluxe pizza. Completely changing how you perceive and experience the wine. An over-sweet prosecco brings you to the clouds with a doughy pizza, Bianca.
That’s great, but how do you know which wine pairs best with the types of pizza you are eating? The last thing I want to hear when I hear this question is that it’s all up to your preference. While this is somewhat true, with so many styles of wine in the market, a little guidance would be nice. Let’s break down some guidelines to help you find the perfect pairing of pizza and wine.
Ultimately, you want to match the intensity of the pizza flavor to the intensity of the wine.
Classic Pairings for Popular Pizzas
Before we dig deeper, let’s cut to the chase and pair some popular pizzas with wine.
Margherita Pizza
Light-bodied red wines like pinot noir or crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc
Pepperoni Pizza
Bold reds like Zinfandel or Chianti to cut through the spice and richness
Mushroom Pizza
Earthy wines like Pinot Noirs from the Northwest US or Chardonnay
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Fruity reds like Syrah or slightly sweet wines like Riesling
Hawaiian Pizza
Off-dry Riesling or sparkling wine to balance the sweet and salty flavors
Veggie Pizza
Herbal whites like Verdejo or light reds like Gamay
How to Choose the Perfect Wine for Any Pizza
Toppings
When considering pizza ingredients, a bold wine such as a Napa Cabernet, Bourdeaux, Malbec, or Chianti will complement the tougher flavors of pepperoni, sausage, Anchovies, and heavy tomato sauce. At the same time, lighter wines such as Pinot Noir, Rose (preferably from Tavel), and a good Beaujolais stand better with lighter pizzas such as Margarita, Vegetarian, and Seafood.
The Tomato-Sauce Factor: The Sauce
Then there are saucy pizzas, such as those with Alfredo, Pesto, and Detroit Style. The sauce on these pizzas overpowers the other ingredients, so the focus of pairing should be on complementing the sauce.
A Chardonnay would pair well with an Alfredo-like sauce style, which is rich in luscious creamy fats. Nowadays, there are different styles of Chardonnays, such as buttery, oaked, unoaked, Burgundian…and the list goes on. So, when I say Chardonnay, any would work, but I encourage you to challenge yourself to try a style you did not like in the past because this is an opportunity to experience the wine from a different perspective. I have found that I typically don’t want a buttery Chardonnay on its own, but I love it with a creamy pizza! Tomato sauce pairs best with high-acid wines such as Sangiovese and Barbera.
Sparkling Wines and Pizza: It’s all about The Dough
Let’s not forget the Dough! Pizzas such as Sicilian, Focaccia, Colorado, and, again, Detroit Style have a doughy characteristic that, if made traditionally, is not overpowered by the toppings. This is a perfect opportunity to break out the bubbles!
Champagne, Prosecco, Lambrusco, and a sparkling rose will do the trick. One of my favorites is Crémant de Bourgogne because it is high-quality, typically lower-priced, and ultimately transforms when paired with doughy pizzas.
These wines refresh your palate as you enjoy the doughiness of the pizza. Making the meal feel less heavy and taking it to another level. This pairing is also great with regular pizza if the kids leave you a bunch of leftover crust! As I said at the beginning, the absurdity of good wine with cheap food is fabulous and fun to play with.
Tips for Hosting a Pizza and Wine Pairing Night:
Create a Journey!
As you read this, the question may come to you,” What if a pizza has multiple characteristics of these categories?” Well, my answer to you, my friend, is to invite more friends over and open a couple of bottles of wine. One bottle for each category to explore the nuances and enhance the different aspects of the pizza.
To get the most out of your pizza and wine pair party, offer a variety of pizzas and a mix of wine styles and encourage your guests to experiment and share their tasting experiences. There are a couple of options for offering a variety of pizzas, such as ordering a diverse set of pizzas, cooking pizzas at home where guests can choose their toppings, or you can go all out and hire a pizza oven with a chef who can make the pizzas to order.
You are not just enjoying friends and wine. Let’s make it about the pizza as well. Where can each pair surprise you?
