Italian
Wine with Pizza
The everyday pairing that's better than you think.
Short answer
Margherita pizza pairs beautifully with Chianti, Barbera, or Sangiovese — Italian reds with the acid to handle tomato. Pepperoni and sausage pizzas want Zinfandel or Côtes du Rhône for the spice. White pizzas (cheese-heavy, no tomato) call for Lambrusco or oaked Chardonnay. Mushroom or truffle pizza loves Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo.
Top wine picks
1
Chianti / Barbera (margherita)
Italian acid handles Italian tomato — the foundational pairing.
2
Zinfandel / Primitivo (meat pizza)
Pepperoni, sausage — bramble fruit and pepper match the toppings.
3
Lambrusco (white pizza)
Slightly fizzy, lightly sweet red — cheese pizza's secret weapon.
4
Pinot Noir (mushroom pizza)
Mushrooms love Pinot — earthy elegance over heavy tannin.
5
Nebbiolo (truffle pizza)
Splurge pairing — Barolo and white truffle is wine-country dinner energy.
What to avoid
- Tannic Bordeaux with delicate pizza
- Sweet wines except Lambrusco