Discover the Best Wine to Have with Pizza

 In CGT Blog

What’s the Best Wine to Pair with Pizza?

Have you experienced the magic of good wine with pizza? Meat, cheese, veggies—pizza is essentially a charcuterie board you bake in the oven! With the perfect pizza and wine pairings, you can turn a hum-drum pizza night into a delectable culinary experience.

Here, we explore the best wines to pair with pizza to help you find a match that will please any wine lover and enhance the flavors of your favorite pizza toppings.

Pizza and Wine Pairings 101

When you pair pizza with a complementary wine, you’ll notice the flavors of your favorite pie are even more enjoyable. Whether you are having a homemade pizza night or getting a delivery from your local pizzeria, it’s important to select the right bottle of vino for your meal. There are about as many pizza toppings out there as there are varieties of wine, so you may find it challenging to figure out the best pairings. Consider this your pizza and wine pairing cheat sheet!

Best Red Wine with Pizza

When it comes to selecting the best red wine to have with your pizza, it all depends on the pizza toppings you choose. Here are some winning wine-pizza suggestions:

Meat Lover’s: If your idea of a satisfying pizza is a hearty pie piled high with all the meat, a red wine with elevated tannins will provide the balance your taste-buds need. We suggest our 2016 Cabernet Franc Reserve, which will counter the rich fattiness of the meats and lend juicy-berry flavor, strong oak references, and an earthy dimension to bring out the flavors of the meat and crispy crust.

Pepperoni: While it may have similar flavor profiles as the Meat Lover’s, a typical pepperoni pizza with traditional tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and plenty of pepperonis calls for a wine that has lower acid levels. Because the tomato sauce on the pizza is a stand-out flavor, it’s best to select a jammy, fruit-forward red, such as a medium-bodied Merlot or Syrah that can pair well with the sugar/acid combo of the sauce. From the CGT collection, we suggest our 2015 Etcetera Red. Handcrafted from a blend of Merlot and Syrah, this balanced wine reveals robust berry flavors along with a subtle oakiness.

BBQ Chicken: With this non-traditional pizza type, look for a red wine to balance the smoky-sweet flavors of the barbeque sauce. A fruity Pinot Noir is light-bodied and features a low tannin content, which works beautifully with the chicken pizza without overpowering the pie’s flavors. Try the CGT 2017 Pinot Noir Limited to enhance your sweet-savory pie.

Best White Wine with Pizza

While many fans of pizza and wine pairings believe red wine is the one and only option, the truth is, some white wine varieties match up with certain pizza toppings even better. For example:

White Pizza: Without the acid of the tomato-based sauce, you have lighter, creamier flavors to balance with your wine pairing. A crisp white wine or something with effervescence is a nice complement. The CGT 2018 Pinot Grigio has the floral-citrus flavors and herbaceous notes to pair perfectly with your white pizza.

Hawaiian: This sweet and salty pie pairs nicely with a Riesling, which has a combination of acid and fruity, flowery sweetness. Our 2018 Late Harvest Riesling is a top choice. You will love how the notes of honey, apricot, and melon bring balance to your Hawaiian pizza.

Veggie: If you like your pizza without meat and with a healthy dose of veggies like onions, mushrooms, peppers, and olives, the best pairing will be a wine choice that features bright acidities to complement the variety of vegetables. We recommend our 2017 Etcetera White pairing for your veggie pizza. This wine has zesty citrus, melon, and green apple flavors along with striking minerality and spice—everything you need to bring balance to the roasted veggie flavors.

Is Rosé Okay with Pizza?

What if you prefer something outside of the white and red wine families? A dry Rosé is the perfect complement to a Margherita pizza. Featuring lightly flavored, classic pizza ingredients like tomatoes and fresh mozzarella as well as the aromatic, herbal notes of fresh basil, the delicate flavors of a Rosé are ideal for your Margherita wine pairing. We recommend our 2018 Pinot Noir Rosé Vin Gris, which has tasting notes of robust berry flavors and subtle oaky earthiness.

The best way to find your perfect pizza and wine pairings is to taste, mix, and match your favorite flavors. Visit our online shop to order your CGT wine to create a memorable pizza night experience. We ship the best wines directly to your door in 19 different states!

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