Are you one of those who can not imagine enjoying pizza without a glass of wine? Or maybe you are someone who does not think about pairing your favorite pizza with a glass of wine. For those on the search, we are here to help you find the best wine to pair with pizza. There are several factors that come into play when choosing the best wine to pair with pizza. The intensity of flavors, the acidity, and level of tannins all play an important role in finding that perfect pairing. Here is everything you need to know about the best wine to pair with pizza, including expert tips on how to choose the right combination based on your preferences and the type of pizzas you will be eating!
What to look for in the best wine to pair with pizza?
When choosing a wine to pair with your pizza, you’ll first need to determine whether you’d like a red wine or a white wine. Some wines are so intense that they can overpower the taste of your pizza altogether. Here are a few factors to consider to help you find the best wine for pizza: - Intensity of flavors: You should always match wines with food that has flavors similar to those in the wine. So if your pizza has very strong flavors, you’ll want a wine with equally strong flavors. - Acidity: The acidity in wine is what cleans your palate when you eat food. This is especially important if you’re pairing your pizza with red wine. Too much acidity in both wine and food can cause the palate to feel overwhelmed. - Level of tannins: The tannins in wine can either enhance or mute the flavors of your pizza. The best way to find out is to try a few different combinations. - Body: The body of a wine refers to the thickness and texture of a wine. It can also be a factor in how the wine matches with your pizza. A full-bodied wine will usually match better with a thicker, heavier slice of pizza than a light-bodied wine would.
Red wine for pepperoni and sausage pizza
These two pizzas have very bold flavors, so a bold red wine is the perfect match. You can’t go wrong with a Malbec or a Grenache. These types of red wines are very intense and full-bodied so they can stand up to the strong flavors of these pizzas. A Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah would be another great choice because of their boldness and high alcohol content. If you opt for a red wine with a high level of acidity, you will likely end up with a very acidic, unpleasant taste in your mouth. This could easily overpower the taste of your pizza.
White wine for mushroom pizza
This is one of the easiest pairings in the book. Mushrooms are rich and earthy, almost like a deep forest in your mouth. These are classic white wine flavors, so a white wine would be the perfect pairing. A Riesling or a Sauvignon Blanc would be an excellent choice. You can also try a dry brut or a dry white sparkling wine. While this is an easy pairing, care should be taken to avoid an overly sweet or sugary wine. If you want to go with a dry white wine, you’ll want to avoid anything that has a lot of residual sugar.
Bleu Cheese Pizza
Bleu cheese is a strong and pungent cheese that pairs perfectly with certain wines. The best wines to pair with bleu cheese are red wines with high acidity. Pinot Noir or Merlot are excellent choices for this pairing. They’re also very rich and bold, so they can stand up to the strong flavors of blu cheese. If you go with white wine, you’ll want one with high acidity to cleanse your palate and avoid having blue cheese linger in your mouth too long. Again, Pinot Noir and Merlot would be excellent choices.
Prosciutto and Buffalo Pizza
This is a classic pairing that works well with either a red or white wine. A dry Rosé would be a great choice if you go with red wine. Rosé wines are light and fresh and can be very versatile. A dry red wine is also a great choice. If you opt for white wine, try to find one with a high level of acidity to avoid having the rich and creamy taste of the buffalo sauce overpower the wine. A higher acidity will also cleanse your palate after each bite, making your pizza experience that much more enjoyable.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading this article on wine pairings for pizza! While pairing wine with pizza may seem like a daunting task, it can actually be a very fun experience. With a little bit of knowledge and research, you can easily find the best wine for your next pizza night. So go ahead and pick out your favorite bottle, and enjoy your pizza with a great glass of wine! For your next wine/pizza night, do not hesitate to order your pie from Palermo’s Pizza!