What Wine Goes With Pasta?

You can consider many things in choosing what wine goes with pasta, but we are sure that the most essential factor is the sauce! We will not make it more complicated. This post will tell you the different pasta and pasta sauces that go well with wine. Prepare your tummy for these pairings!

INTRODUCTION TO WINE AND PASTA

Wine and pasta come hand in hand, especially in countries where that versatile dish is native. However, the best experience only happens when the pairing is excellent! It adds up to the satisfaction that you might feel after eating.

Have you ever tried eating pasta and the wine doesn’t suit well with the taste? If yes, it’s time for you to forget old pairings and discover new ones through this blog.

We will focus on the wine and the pasta sauce. The flavors of the wine will complement based on the ingredients of the pasta sauce. So, this is the most convenient way to decide on the pairing.

Also, these are specific wine and pasta sauce pairs, but if you find another substitute for these, you can share it with us too! Before we proceed, watch this short and simple video for you to have an idea about wine pairing.

What Wine Goes With Marinara-based Pasta?

For those who are not familiar with marinara sauce, this pasta sauce is made from tomatoes and essential ingredients like garlic and onion. Marinara sauce is different from tomato sauce. Usually, marinara sauce is almost the same as pizza sauce.

Marinara-based pasta is best combined with red wines—specifically, dry red wines like Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. White wines such as Pinot Grigio are okay too. Sauvignon Blanc would also be a good pairing. Just do not use sweet white wine on marinara-based pasta.

Pasta sauces have tomatoes as ingredients, so wines with less acidity will be a great pair.

What Wine Goes With Carbonara?

Carbonara is another well-known pasta style in the world. Almost everyone, if not all, has already tasted it. It is effortless to cook this dish, but is pairing it with wine easy too?

Carbonara is excellent when paired with red wine like Amarone and Pinot Noir, white wine like Riesling, rose wines like Chiaretto, and sparkling wine like Prosecco. Since carbonara is creamy, and sometimes people put mushrooms on it, the wines mentioned earlier are suitable.

What Wine Goes With Puttanesca-based Pasta?

Puttanesca sauce has intense flavors that can lure people into trying this dish. This sauce is mainly used in the pasta dish Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca from Italy.

Now, what wines will complement the pungent aroma of this pasta? Pasta with puttanesca sauce is best paired with wines with high acidity, fruity flavors, and moderate tannins. In this case, red wines would be the best choice.

The wine Barbera is the most suitable to pair with Puttanesca. But, you can also choose from Zinfandel, Valpolicella, and Nero d’ Avola.

What Wine Goes With Clam Pasta?

White wines like Pinot Grigio and sparkling wines like Voila are the best choices for clam pasta. Dry roses like Bardolino and Côtes de Provence would fit too. Spaghetti Alle Vongole is a pasta dish that has clams. We know that clams are salty, so it is good to pair them with wines with high minerals. Try this pairing at home!

What Wine Goes With Arrabiata Pasta?

Arrabiata is another pasta dish that has tomato and red pepper flakes. People also refer to this classic dish as angry pasta. Well, that is because most Arrabiata pasta has too many spices.

Pasta Arrabiata is typically rich in flavor. But, if you prefer it to be lighter than usual, you can also pair it with light-bodied wines. There is a light white wine called Vermentino, Verdicchio, Gavi, and Pinot Grigio.

There are also light red wines you can choose from, such as Chianti, Valpolicella, and Dolcetto. These wines will indeed balance the flavors of the pasta.

What Wine Goes With Aglio e Olio Pasta?

Aglio e Olio Pasta is another staple food in Italy. It became famous since it is easy to prepare and the ingredients to make this are affordable. Some of these spices are chili, olive oil, and garlic.

For that reason, the wine that will complement the taste of Aglio e Olio is Primitivo. This wine has a sharp taste that will surely enhance the flavors of this pasta. You can try other white wines, too, as long as they are dry.

What Wine Goes With Bolognese Pasta?

Serve a Chianti Classico wine together with a Bolognese pasta. These are the best pair! Chianti Classico has a high amount of acidity and tannin, which will complement the meat ingredient of the sauce.

The tannin content of Chianti Classico will break down the meat. Meanwhile, the acidity of the wine will help in cleansing your palate.

If you don’t have the best-fit wine, there are other choices. Among these are Merlot wine, Malbec, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Nero d’Avola, and Vinsobres. All these choices are red wines.

What Wine Goes With Pomodoro Pasta?

The term Pomodoro means tomato. It is an Italian pasta dish that has tomato and cheese. The fact that the sauce has tomato ingredients implies that Pomodoro pasta suits the taste of red wines like Pinot Noir.

If the pasta has basil on top, it is better to use a light-bodied red wine. You can also pair Pomodoro pasta with German Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa.

What Wine Goes With Truffle Pasta?

Truffle is a type of rare fungus that you can mix with food. It is the main ingredient in truffle pasta. But, this one is indeed expensive. So, if you are going to eat this without minding what wine you’ll pair with, you might want to think again.

Truffle pasta will taste better if paired with Barolo wine. Ideally, the aged Barolo wine both are mushroom-like and woodsy in texture. If the truffle is black, white wines would be the best choice. With the correct balance of fragrance and acidity, you will make the most out of your expensive truffle.

What Wine Goes With Alfredo Pasta?

The answer is the well-known Chardonnay wine! Alfredo Pasta or sauces are highly appreciated if paired with light-bodied white wines. A Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta is creamy. So, it can also be served with a Burgundy white wine and Blanc Fume. A Pinot Grigio and Soave will also serve their purposes.

What Wine Goes With Pesto-based Pasta?

Pesto pasta is loved by many! If you belong to those individuals, then check this out.

There are a lot of wines you can pair with pesto pasta. Among these are Catarratto, Sauvignon Blanc, and Vermentino. Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner, Albariño, Pinot Gris, and Chablis are okay too.

Although there are still other wine choices, you can pair your pesto with, choosing what wine will enhance the flavor of the pasta is ideal. If you are not fond of the wines mentioned above, please choose an herb-driven wine because it will surely fit the taste of pesto pasta.

What Wine Goes With Pumpkin Pasta?

Viognier and Pouilly-Fuissé are the best wines that will suit the taste of pumpkin pasta. We rarely see or eat these kinds of pasta since its taste and texture are pretty unusual to the palate.

Nevertheless, it is a good dish that must be served with wines with low acidity like Viognier. The aroma also improves the taste of the pumpkin pasta.

What Wine Goes With Scarpariello Pasta?

Scarpariello pasta is best served with Rosé de Noir Brut. It is a sparkling wine that will go well with this pasta because it can balance the sweet taste of tomato and the aroma of basil and olive. For a bit of trivia, the term Scarpariello is derived from the word scarpetta. It is an old practice of dipping loaf into a pasta sauce.

What Wine Goes With Vodka-based Pasta?

Yes, you read it correctly! There is pasta with vodka as an ingredient on it. Pasta with vodka is commonly called Penne Alla Vodka, which originated in Italy. This pasta is typically creamy.

The best wine choice is Sangiovese for the creaminess of vodka pasta or sauce. This wine only has slight acidity. Sauvignon Blanc would be okay, too, if you like to contradict the rich flavor of the sauce. The wine choice is yours to make!

What Wine Goes With Pasta Gricia?

A white wine (Trebbiano d’Abruzzo) or red ( Montepulciano d’Abruzzo) will fit the flavors of Pasta Gricia. Some may say that Frascati and Montefiascone are the best choices. But honestly, they are not because these wines are not rich enough in flavors. The pork and cheese ingredient will be okay if paired with red wines.

Final Words

As you read, there are a lot of different kinds of pasta that you can enjoy. Also, there are plenty of wines you can serve with it. Knowing what wine goes with pasta only takes a little knowledge, research, and trial & error.

Again, these pairings are only suggestions and not mandatory. You can always go for what you want, even if it is not in this blog. But, we would love to know your thoughts once you try these wine and pasta pairings!