What Wine to Pair with Pizza?
Let me just start by saying that I freakin’ love pizza. LOVE IT. In my household, we celebrate #pizzafriday on a weekly basis, and I look forward to biting into an ooey, gooey cheesey slice all week long. Like. Seriously.
But what wine to pair with pizza? This is make it or break it for me and the overall experience. As such, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite pizza toppings and wine pairings below, and partnered with Mercantile & Co to make it easier than ever to get great wine delivered to your door. We’ve even crafted a 3-pack bundle so you can try all of these delicious pairings below!
Grenache Blanc & Grilled Four Onion Pizza
Grenache Blanc is an aromatic white wine. This bottle of Proxy Grenache Blanc shows explosive aromas of white peach, passion fruit, and guava. The mouth is weighty with dense layers of tropical fruit with hints of citrus and stone fruit, and well balanced by natural acidity. As such, you’ll want to pair it with a fresher style pizza. My favorite? A French Onion Pizza. You can get the recipe here, or, if ordering from your favorite local spot look for something with crisp, fresh veggies, a garlic/olive oil sauce, and a fontina-style cheese. The summery flavors of the wine are going to play well with the veggies and keep you going back for bite after bite.
Zinfandel & Classic Pepperoni pizza
Who can resist a classic slice of cheese and pepperoni? My go-to for this style of pizza is a Zinfandel — and Pellegrini Zinfandel from Mercantile & Co is absolutely perfect. Big & intense with richy juicy flavors and mouth-watering acidity, this wine is a good partner for matching the slight spiciness of pepperoni and full-flavored goodness of tomato sauce. Zinfandel can also be a versatile wine when it comes to food pairings, so you could easily pair it with a meat lovers pie, pepperoni & sausage, or a simple slice of cheese pizza. You can’t go wrong here!
ValPolicella & margherita pizza
Ah, and of course… we couldn’t get through a wine & pizza pairing post without bringing in a bottle from Italy! This bottle of Ca’ Rugate Rio Albo Valpolicella DOC will transport your taste buds to the beautiful, hilly vineyards of Montecchia di Crosara. Produced from the standard varietals for this area (45% Corvina, 40% Corvinone, 15% Rondinella), you’ll note ruby red hews, with a bouquet of blackberry and cherries. The palate is supple, with light tannins and plenty of flavor, making it the perfect compliment to a thin crusted traditional Margherita Pizza with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and fresh basil leaves.
Cheers to Pizza!
As always, the best pairing for whatever you’re eating is something you love! While there’s certainly magical food & wine combos out there, at the end of the day it’s about eating and drinking what you actually enjoy.
With that in mind, Mercantile & Co makes it easy to try new wines and get them delivered direct to your door. When you purchase something from Mercantile a portion of your purchase goes to a great cause, while supporting a small business owner who is working hard to bring you the best from their community. It’s a win-win-win! You can learn more about them here or send me a message any time and I’ll help you pair a bottle their wine with the perfect slice.
Cheers!