Wondering what wines pair best with pesto? Whether you’re serving pesto pasta, soup topped with pesto, or grilled meat with pesto, these are the best wine pairings for pesto.
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What wine goes with pesto pasta?
Viognier
- Viognier has a great lush texture with mild acidity. It pairs nicely with the bite of the fresh basil and the richness of the cheese.
Sauvignon Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc has grassy aromas which are echoed in the bright green pesto flavors of a traditional basil pesto or this Arugula Pesto.
Pinot Gris
- I love how the bright acidity and citrus notes of Pinot Gris pair with a rich pesto like this Broccoli Pesto Pasta.
Chardonnay
- A ripe, full-bodied Chardonnay. Its creaminess is a great match for the bright flavors in pesto. Try it with this Kale Pesto.
Pinot Noir
- For a red wine option, try Pinot Noir. The herbal flavor of pesto is complimented by a light-bodied Pinot Noir. Pinot is especially nice with creamy pesto dishes like this Creamy Goat Cheese Pesto Pasta. It’s also a perfect pairing for salmon pesto dishes.
Things to Consider
Meat Based Dishes
If serving a meat based pesto dish, like this Flank Steak with Burrata & Pesto, or Rack of Lamb with Pistachio Pesto, consider a Cabernet. It mades for an excellent pairing with the meat and its herbal notes are echoed in the basil pesto.
Tomato Based Dishes
Tomato based dishes, like Pesto Pizza or this Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, are a bit more acidic, so look for an acidic wine to pair with them, like Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc.
As always, please feel free to take these suggestions with a grain of salt. Enjoy what you like best! You can even chicken marsala 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.
What does pesto pair well with?
- Use it to dress up a turkey sandwich.
- Drizzle it over some grilled chicken skewers.
- Toss is with a bowl of freshly cooked pasta, potato gnocchi or zucchini noodles.
- Combine it with some olive oil and red wine vinegar (or lemon juice) for an amazing salad dressing.
- Use it as a dip for grilled or roasted vegetables.
- More → 30+ Recipes that Use Pesto.
More wine pairings advice
Did you try any of these Pesto Wine Pairings?
If you tried any of these pesto 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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Full Recipe
The BEST Wine with Pesto
Equipment
- Wine Glass
Ingredients
- Viognier
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Cabernet (for pairing with meat-based pesto dishes)
Instructions
- Pick your favorite pesto dish.
- Pair it with one of the wines above.
- Enjoy!
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