Wondering what the best wine for pasta dinners is? From Bolognese to Cheese Manicotti to my Nana’s Sunday Gravy, this handy guide has you covered!
The 7 BEST wines for pasta
This is definitely not an all encompassing list. And the type of wine you choose to go with your pasta, will depend on the type of pasta you’re enjoying.
Let’s dive in further…
Does pasta go with red or white wine?
This will depend on the style of pasta. Tomato sauce based pastas are best with red wines with a good amount of acidity. Creamy pastas or seafood pastas, are best with white wines.
What red wine goes with pasta sauce?
Try Zinfandel, Merlot or Syrah paired with Marinara sauce based pasta dishes. They’re also amazing with this Butter Roasted Tomato Sauce. Red sauce dishes are high in acidity, and therefore need wines with higher acidity levels to match them. Otherwise, the taste will be bland.
What kind of white wine goes with pasta?
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling are great options.
What wine goes with creamy pasta?
Creamy pasta dishes such as Alfredo, Cheese Manicotti, Roasted Fennel Pasta with Ricotta, Gnocchi with Blue Cheese and Frizzled Prosciutto, or Goat Cheese Pasta, pair nicely with light bodied wines like Chardonnay or a lighter red wine like Pinot Noir.
Mushroom pasta dishes
Mushroom pasta dishes pair well with lighter, earthy red wines, like Pinot Noir.
What wine goes with meat pasta dishes?
Meat-based pasta dishes like Sunday Gravy, Lasagna, or Bolognese Sauce, pair best with full-bodied wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, as the sauce will help balance out the intensity of the wine’s mouthfeel.
Seafood pasta dishes
Seafood pastas like Lobster Ravioli, Shrimp Fra Diavolo or Squid Ink Pasta pair well with white wines like an un-oaked Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
What wine goes with pesto?
The best wine pairing for pesto pastas, like Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, Broccoli Pesto, or Kale Pesto is a ripe, full-bodied Chardonnay. Its creaminess is a great match for the bright flavors of fresh pesto.
Light pasta dishes
Olive oil based pasta dishes like Aglio e Olio or Lemon Pasta are delicious paired with crisp, dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc.
As always, please feel free to take these suggestions with a grain of salt. Enjoy what you like best! You can even pair pasta with a sparkling wine if that’s what you enjoy. The only way to find out the very best pairing for yourself is to taste different wines, and experiment.
More wine pairings advice
Did you try any of these wines with pasta?
If you tried any of these pasta wine pairings, I would love your feedback! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your pairing and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
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Find all our favorite pasta recipes here. Plus, click here to find the best sides to serve with pasta.
Full Recipe
7 BEST Wine + Pasta Pairings
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb. pork spareribs
- 1 lb. beef stew meat
- 1 lb. Italian sausage ( spicy or mild, based on personal preference)
- 6 cloves garlic (peeled and left whole)
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 3 28-oz. cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup water
- 8 leaves fresh basil (torn into small pieces)
- Salt and Pepper (to taste )
- 1 Tablespoon sugar (more or less based on the flavor of your tomatoes)
- Parmesan (shaved, for topping)
- Pasta
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.
- Pat the pork dry and put the pieces in the pot.
- Cook turning occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until nicely browned on all sides.
- Transfer pork to a plate.
- Brown the beef in the same way and add it to the plate.
- Place the sausages in the pot and brown on all sides.
- Set the sausages aside with the pork and beef.
- Drain off most of the fat from the pot.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes or until golden.
- Remove and discard the garlic.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes to the pot.
- Add the water; season with a pinch salt and pepper.
- Return the pork, beef, and sausages to the pot and bring sauce to a simmer.
- Partially cover the pot and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for at least 2 hours.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more water.
- At the end, add sugar, to taste, and adjust your seasonings one more time with salt and pepper. Add basil leaves and serve over your favorite pasta, topped with shaved Parmesan.
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