If you go to the homeland of pizza-Italy-there’s no doubt that wine with pizza is completely natural. And we couldn’t agree more. Just like pizza comes in red, white, and even orange varieties, there are plenty of wine options to match. For example, red wine can be dark and bold or light and fruity. White wine can be dry or more aromatic. And then there’s orange wine, which can be as full-bodied as red or as light as white. Let’s not forget rosé-arguably the ultimate summer wine. Often a bit more fruity than white wine and excellent with pizza.
And then there are the more funky and unique wine styles, like Lambrusco. It’s not quite a wine in the traditional sense, but still a fantastic match for pizza.
So what’s the best wine for pizza?
Find out below.
As with any drink paired with food, there isn’t just one type of wine that’s best.
It’s all about finding a combination where the food and drink complement each other. The food should enhance the taste of the wine—and vice versa.
If your pizza has bold flavors, it’s often best to go with a red wine that’s equally bold. These strong flavors might include ripe tomato, aged parmesan, rosemary, sage, chili, olives, cured ham, or anchovies. It’s similar to pairing wine with a rich stew or a well-prepared piece of meat with sauce. If the wine isn’t full-bodied enough, the flavor profile can clash instead of complementing the food. The wine may taste watered down and might even make the food feel overwhelming.
On the other hand, if your pizza has milder, lighter flavors, a white wine can pair beautifully. Try a crisp white or a fuller-bodied variety. You can also go for a light red wine.
Orange wine falls somewhere in between, and if you’re in the mood for something a bit different, give a good Lambrusco a try. Lambrusco is a light, sparkling red wine, often around 6–7% alcohol. It’s a funky option with a slightly checkered reputation, but we really like it. In recent years, some excellent Lambruscos have hit the market.
At Pico Pizza, we serve organic wine from our good friends at Vinhanen. Our selection includes producers from Germany, France, and Italy. The wine is stored in kegs, which ensures minimal oxidation as it’s transferred from large tanks to storage and on tap. This means the wine you get in your glass is as fresh as possible—since oxygen is a major reason wine spoils after a bottle is opened.
Our wines are often unfiltered. They may appear cloudy, but that’s to preserve as much flavor as possible.
We serve our wine with pizza at 15–16°C (59–61°F), which gives the wine room to open up in the glass without getting too warm.
Whether you’re having vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free pizzas, we have a wine to match.
If you’d like to come by one of our locations and try our wine selection with your pizza, you can book a table or order for pickup. We’re also happy to send a freshly tapped bottle of wine home with your pizzas.
We look forward to serving you!
