Wine with Pizza

Pizza is Italy’s most iconic meal. While you can find many variations that differ pretty significantly from the original, Italian pizzas typically have a thin base made from wheat dough and are coated with tomato sauce and cheese.

The best wine pairing for pizza depends on the additional toppings:

• Pizza Margherita comes without additional toppings and is the lightest variation. You can enjoy it with a light red or with a dry rosé, for instance, from the Provence region in France.
• Pizza with pepperoni goes well with a young Chianti with just enough acidity and tannins to stand the fatty meat.
• Prosciutto, the cured Italian ham, is lighter than pepperoni. Thus, a lighter red wine is the right pairing for a Prosciutto pizza. Wines such as Brunello or Tignanello are great options.
• Pizza Hawaii is a controversial type because many people don’t like fruity toppings on a pizza. Pick a semi-sweet white wine to match the combination of salty ham and sweet pineapple. Especially German Rieslings are delicious matches.
• If you prefer your pizza with only vegetarian toppings, you can try a medium-bodied white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Verdejo.