Pairing wine with pasta is a delicate process. The best way to decide what you should drink is to look at the type of sauce that your pasta dish has. If it’s a creamy white sauce or red meaty sauce, there’s a fine wine for any delicious pasta dish! In this blog post, we will recommend the best white wine, red wine, or Rosé for your favorite pasta dish from spaghetti to fettuccini alfredo!
Pasta Varieties
While the best wine to pair with pasta depends on your sauce more than the shape of your noodles, there are a few general rules to follow when selecting what should go best in each dish.
Spaghetti and angel hair usually call for light white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio while thicker kinds of pasta like fettuccini alfredo or lasagna will do well with medium-bodied reds like Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG.
For lighter cream sauces, try an unoaked Chardonnay while richer meaty flavors work best with full-bodied reds that have been aged longer (look for ‘riserva’ on the label).
If you are cooking with seafood, choose a wine that has some sweetness so it best complements the dish. For instance, try pairing tilapia or flounder pasta dishes with Gewürztraminer or Pinot Gris while lobster and shrimp pasta go best with Riesling.
Tomato-based Pasta Sauces
Best Red Wine: A fruity Zinfandel or a peppery Shiraz will work best with a tomato-based pasta sauce. The acidity in the tomatoes will be tamed by the sweetness of the wine and you’ll get delicious flavors of cherry, raspberry, or blackberry.
Best White Wine: A Chardonnay with buttery undertones will pair well with a creamy tomato sauce. The oak barrel aging will also bring out complexities like vanilla and caramel that will compliment the flavor of the tomatoes.
Best Rosé: A slightly sweet rosé wine like a Provençal Rosé will perfectly balance the acidity in a tomato-based sauce. You’ll get lovely hints of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus fruits.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Best Red Wine: A robust full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is best for a spaghetti Bolognese dish. The wine’s earthy flavors will pair well with the beef and tomato sauce. Hints of blackberry, currant, and vanilla can be tasted in the wine.
Best White Wine: A dry Riesling will work best with a spaghetti Bolognese dish. The wine’s tart flavors will complement the acidity in the sauce. You’ll taste hints of apple, pear, and grapefruit when you drink this wine with your favorite pasta dish.
Best Rosé: A dry rose wine like a Provençal Rosé will best complement the acidity in your Bolognese sauce. The wine’s fruity flavors of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus fruits will best balance out the acidity in this dish.
Cheese Pasta
Best Red Wine: A medium-bodied Merlot will perfectly pair with a cheesy pasta dish. The wine’s earthy flavors are best complemented by the strong flavor of Parmesan, Asiago, or Tzatziki sauce and you’ll get hints of raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry.
Best White Wine: We recommend Chardonnay with your favorite cheese pasta dish. You won’t be disappointed when you taste apple and pear notes in this wine that goes well with goat-cheese-based dishes like fettuccini alfredo.
Best Rosé: Pairing a slightly sweet rosé such as Provençal Rosé is best for any creamy pasta sauces made from cheese. The wine’s fruity flavors of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus fruits will perfectly balance the acidity in the sauce.
Seafood Pasta
Best Red Wine: A dry crisp Italian Pinot Grigio is best for pairing with a seafood pasta dish. The acidity of the wine will cut through any buttery and cream sauces and you’ll taste hints of apple, pear, and grapefruit when drinking this wine with your favorite pasta dish.
Best White Wine: You’ll find that Chardonnay pairs quite well with a seafood pasta dish. Your palate will appreciate the taste of apple and pear notes in this wine that goes well with a creamy sauce made from fish like salmon or tuna-based pasta such as linguine alfredo.
Best Rosé: Pairing a slightly sweet rosé such as Provençal Rosé is best for any creamy pasta sauces made from seafood. The wine’s fruity flavors of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus fruits will perfectly balance the acidity in the sauce.
Vegetable Pasta
Best Red Wine: A medium-bodied Merlot is best for a vegetable pasta dish. The wine’s earthy flavors are best complemented by the strong flavor of Parmesan, Asiago, or Tzatziki sauce and you’ll get hints of raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry.
Best White Wine: There is nothing better than pairing an unoaked Chardonnay with your favorite cheese pasta dish. You will be pleasantly surprised when you taste apple and pear notes in this wine that goes well with goat-cheese-based dishes like fettuccini alfredo.
Best Rosé: Pairing a slightly sweet rosé such as Provençal Rosé is best for any creamy pasta sauces made from vegetables. The wine’s fruity flavors of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus fruits will perfectly balance the acidity in the sauce.
Asparagus and salmon fettuccini? Pair it with Chardonnay for best results. A light white like Riesling works well too!
For red meat sauces on spaghetti, we recommend Pinot Noir as the best wine pairing option. Of course, there are so many wines out there but if you haven’t tried these pairings yet, go ahead and give them a shot today to discover your personal favorite pairing.
Conclusion
No matter what your favorite pasta dish is, there is a perfect wine to pair with it. Experiment with different wines and you’re sure to find one that best complements the flavors of your dish. So sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine with dinner tonight!