“Pizza and wine?!” If you’re asking yourself this question, then you probably haven’t had the fortune of eating at an artisan pizzeria where pizza is served with wine pairings. However, wine actually goes wonderfully with a well-made pizza, and I especially love it with a classic Italian Margherita pizza! So, what is the best wine to pair with pizza Margherita?
A light pinot grigio is, by far, the best wine to pair with a pizza Margherita. The Margherita is known for its simple, fresh ingredients: tomato, mozzarella, and basil. The light, floral, and slightly tangy flavor of a pinot grigio combines perfectly with the herbal aroma that pizza Margherita is so well known for.
Although pinot grigio is the best (and my personal favorite) there are also several other wines that can be paired with a Margherita. In today’s post, I’ll list all of my favorite wine and pizza pairings, explain why certain wines go better with certain flavors and answer a couple of commonly asked questions regarding wine and pizza. Buon cibo!
Pairing Wine and Pizza Margherita
Pizza Margherita is a lot different from the greasy, topping-laden pizza that most Americans are used to. Instead, it’s better known for its light toppings, wonderfully crunchy crust, and farm-fresh ingredients. At its very essence, it’s Italian food at its finest. The perfect combination of bread, cheese, vegetables, and herbs. And if you know anything about Italian food, you know they love pairing wine with just about every meal!
I assure you, when your brick oven-cooked Margherita comes out, the right wine pairing will make a world of difference. That being said, let’s take a look at my favorite wine pairings to drink with Margherita and why I enjoy them so much.
What Is The Best Red Wine With Pizza Margherita?
The best red wine that I’ve ever had with a classic Margherita pizza is a French Gamay. Gamay wines are red, have a high level of acidity, and a wonderfully earthy aftertaste. These properties make it an excellent choice for almost any pizza that uses herbs, and especially pizza Margherita. Another reason to choose a sweet red like Gamay is that they go excellent with other Italian appetizers like breadsticks, crostini, or bruschetta.
What Is The Best White Wine With Pizza Margherita?
As I mentioned above, my favorite white wine to drink with Margherita is pinot grigio due to the way that it compliments the herbal notes of the basil sprinkled on top of the pizza. White wines tend to have more “body” to them, which really helps to balance out some fo the more fatty and acidic elements of the pizza.
What Is The Best Bubbling Wine With Pizza Margherita?
If you prefer bubbles, then I recommend authentic Champagne from France. The reason? Well, champagne has a higher level of acidity than most white wines. This, in turn, combines elegantly with the acidity from both the cheese and the tomatoes topping the Margherita.
Will Drinking Wine With Pizza Make Me Acidic?
Both pizza and wine are regarded as acidic foods. The cheese (which is the biggest ingredient on Neapolitan-style pizzas like the Margherita) has a high fat content, which makes it acidic. Additionally, the higher the percentage of alcohol in a wine, the more acidic it will become.
This means that if you traditionally suffer from acid reflux or other gastrointestinal disorders, then you may want to avoid this combination. However, if you don’t have any pre-existing conditions, then you shouldn’t have any problems. Wine and pizza is a very popular pairing in Italy and the country is also known for having some of the healthiest citizens in the world!
How Do Wine Tannins Effect Pizza Taste?
In addition to the flavor of the individual grapes, the reason why some wines go better with certain flavors is due to tannins in the wine. The tannins are contained in the skin of the grapes and contribute to how “bitter” or “light” a wine tastes.
In general, red wines have higher tannin content due to the thicker skin of the grapes, which produces a flavor that goes well with the earthier elements of pizza such as the crust, meat toppings, and certain vegetables.
Conversely, white wines pair better with fruitier toppings, cheese, and herbs due to their lower tannin content that makes them taste less “bitter.”