Food Pairing · Everyday Pairings
Best Wines for Pizza: The Ultimate Casual Pairing
Pizza is the world's most democratic food, and it pairs with an enormous range of wines. The trick is matching the topping's weight and the cheese's richness.
Here's the crowd-pleasing playbook, from stone-baked Margherita to loaded pepperoni.
By Worldwide Wines Reviews Team
The great all-rounders
A juicy, lightly chilled Chianti, a fruit-forward Côtes-du-Rhône or an off-dry Lambrusco all handle pizza's interplay of tomato, cheese and crust.
Off-dry Prosecco or a bright, chilled rosé is a beguiling pairing that cuts the richness and mirrors the tomato's acidity.
- Margherita — Chianti, Vermentino, Prosecco
- Pepperoni — Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Syrah
- Four cheese — Pinot Noir, light Chardonnay
- Veggie supreme — Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño
Regional wisdom
Italians famously wash pizza down with cold sparkling wine or a simple red; a Lambrusco — Italy's bubbles-with-bite — is made for the table.
For deep-dish and thick-crust overloads, work with a high-acid medium-bodied red that refreshes rather than weighs down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red or white with pizza?▾
Both work — red for classic pepperoni/meat pizzas, white or sparkling for lighter and cheese-forward ones. Acid freshness is the key.
Is Prosecco good with pizza?▾
Surprisingly yes — its brisk bubbles and peachiness cut through cheese and tomato beautifully.
What about spicy pizza?▾
Off-dry whites (Riesling) or fruity, low-tannin reds handle spice best; high-tannin wine + chili is a mismatch.
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Wines To Try
Tuscany Sangiovese
Tuscany · 2024 (representative vintage)
Tuscany Sangiovese is an red wine from Italy, in the Tuscany region (Central Italy, around Florence and Siena, stretching from the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian coast.), made principally from Sangiovese. a house-style Tuscany sangiovese that showcases the grape in this region.
$14–$34 est. retail
Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Loire Valley · 2024 (representative vintage)
Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc is an white wine from France, in the Loire Valley region (Central and western France, along the Loire river from Sancerre in the east to Nantes at the Atlantic.), made principally from Sauvignon Blanc. a house-style Loire Valley sauvignon blanc that showcases the grape in this region.
$12–$28 est. retail
Veneto Corvina
Veneto · 2024 (representative vintage)
Veneto Corvina is an red wine from Italy, in the Veneto region (Northeastern Italy, from the Dolomites foothills to Venice and the Adriatic; the plain around Verona and Treviso.), made principally from Corvina. a house-style Veneto corvina that showcases the grape in this region.
$14–$34 est. retail
Prosecco DOC Extra Dry
Veneto · 2024 (representative vintage)
Prosecco DOC Extra Dry is an sparkling wine from Italy, in the Veneto region (Northeastern Italy, from the Dolomites foothills to Venice and the Adriatic; the plain around Verona and Treviso.), made principally from Glera. The everyday Aperol-famous sparkler — fresh, fruity and uncomplicated, made across Veneto and Friuli.
$10–$18 est. retail