10 No-Fail Wine and Pizza Pairings You'll Want to Have Again and Again
Tired of guessing which wine to drink with your pizza? Discover 10 no-fail, delicious wine and pizza pairings that you'll want to have again and again.
11 minutes
Pizza night. The two best words in the English language? Maybe. It’s a night for relaxing, for catching up on shows, for having friends over. It’s simple, delicious, and always a good idea.
But then the question hits: “What should we drink with this?”
Suddenly, you’re standing in the wine aisle, staring at a wall of bottles, feeling a little stressed. Will this red wine make the pizza taste weird? Is this white wine too sweet? It’s easy to just grab the same old bottle you always do, or worse, pick one that ends up fighting with your food.
The truth is, a good wine pairing can turn a simple pizza night into something special. It can make the cheese taste creamier, the sauce taste brighter, and the toppings pop. And it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
Forget dusty wine cellars and confusing jargon. We’re here to give you 10 real-world, no-fuss wine and pizza combos that just work. These are the pairings you’ll actually want to repeat, week after week.
A Super Simple Guide to Why Pairings Work
Before we jump into the combos, let’s talk about the “why.” It’s not magic, it’s just about balance. Think of it like this:
- Acid Loves Fat: The acid in wine (what makes it taste zesty and refreshing) cuts through richness and fat. It cleans your mouth and gets you ready for the next bite. That’s why lemonade is so good with fried chicken. Same idea.
- Tannins Love Protein: Tannins are that slightly bitter, drying feeling you get from some red wines. They come from grape skins and seeds. When you pair a tannic wine with protein and fat (like cheese and sausage), the tannins bind to the protein instead of your mouth, making the wine feel smoother and the food taste richer.
- Sweet Loves Salty & Spicy: A little bit of sweetness in a wine can be a perfect match for salty or spicy foods. It cools the heat and creates a delicious sweet-and-salty combo we all love.
That’s it! With those three simple ideas, you’re ready to become a pairing pro. Now, let's get to the pizza.
1. The Italian Classic: Margherita Pizza & Sangiovese
The Pizza: The Margherita is pizza at its purest. Simple, fresh, and delicious. You’ve got the tangy San Marzano tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella cheese, and a few leaves of fresh, slightly peppery basil. It’s the queen of pizzas for a reason.
The Wine: Sangiovese (san-jee-oh-vay-zay) is Italy’s most famous red grape. If you’ve had Chianti, you’ve had Sangiovese. It’s full of cherry and raspberry flavors, with earthy notes and a good amount of that zesty acidity we talked about.
Why it Works: This pairing is a classic because it’s a geographical match. They grew up together in Italy! The high acidity in the Sangiovese matches the acidity of the tomatoes perfectly, making both taste brighter and fresher. The wine’s savory, herbal notes also beautifully complement the fresh basil. It’s a simple, elegant dance where neither partner steps on the other’s toes.
Pro-Tip: Look for a bottle of Chianti Classico. It’s a great-value Sangiovese that’s perfect for pizza night.
2. The Crowd-Pleaser: Pepperoni Pizza & Barbera
The Pizza: Ah, pepperoni. The undisputed king of pizza toppings. It’s savory, a little spicy, and releases that delicious, fatty oil all over the cheese. It’s a big flavor that needs a wine that can keep up.
The Wine: Barbera (bar-bear-ah) is another fantastic red from Italy. It’s known for having deep black cherry and plum flavors, soft tannins, and, you guessed it, high acidity. It’s a juicy, food-friendly wine that doesn’t try to steal the show.
Why it Works: Remember how acid loves fat? The high acidity in Barbera cuts right through the fat of the pepperoni and cheese. It cleanses your palate with every sip, preventing the pizza from feeling too heavy or greasy. The wine’s fruitiness is a great counterpoint to the saltiness of the pepperoni, making for a truly satisfying bite.
Feeling Lost in the Wine Aisle? It can be tough to pick out a specific bottle. Next time you're shopping, use the Vinoh app to scan a bottle of Barbera. You can see tasting notes from experts and other users to make sure you're grabbing a good one.
3. The Earthy Delight: Mushroom & Truffle Pizza & Pinot Noir
The Pizza: This is a more gourmet, sophisticated pizza. It’s all about savory, earthy flavors from roasted mushrooms, maybe some caramelized onions, and the distinct, luxurious aroma of truffle oil.
The Wine: Pinot Noir (pee-no nwar) is a light-bodied red wine that’s famous for its elegance. It has delicate flavors of red fruits like cherry and raspberry, but its signature is a savory, earthy, forest-floor quality.
Why it Works: This is a pairing of equals. The earthy notes in the Pinot Noir latch onto the flavors of the mushrooms and truffle perfectly. It’s like they were made for each other. Because Pinot Noir is light in body and has soft tannins, it won’t overpower the more delicate flavors of the pizza. It simply elevates them.
Pro-Tip: Don’t be afraid to try Pinot Noir from different places. A French Burgundy will be very earthy, while one from California or Oregon might have more bright, fruity notes.
4. The Sweet & Salty: Hawaiian Pizza & Off-Dry Riesling
The Pizza: Does pineapple belong on pizza? We’re not here to settle that debate, but we are here to pair it. The Hawaiian pizza is all about the irresistible combination of sweet, juicy pineapple and salty, savory ham.
The Wine: Riesling (reez-ling) is a white wine that can range from bone-dry to very sweet. For this pairing, you want an “off-dry” Riesling, which means it has just a touch of sweetness. It’s also packed with acidity and flavors of green apple, lime, and honey.
Why it Works: Sweet loves salty! The slight sweetness in the Riesling is a knockout combination with the salty ham, while its tropical fruit notes echo the pineapple. The wine’s high acidity keeps everything fresh and balanced, preventing the sweetness from becoming overwhelming. It’s a surprisingly perfect match that will make a believer out of any skeptic.
5. The Fresh & Green: Veggie Pizza & Sauvignon Blanc
The Pizza: A veggie pizza is a garden on a crust. It’s loaded with a medley of toppings like bell peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts. The key flavor profile is fresh, green, and herbaceous.
The Wine: Sauvignon Blanc (so-vin-yawn blonk) is a zesty white wine known for its "green" flavors. It often tastes of grapefruit, passionfruit, and has a distinct grassy or bell pepper note. Its calling card is its screaming high acidity.
Why it Works: This is another "like with like" pairing. The green, herbaceous notes in the Sauvignon Blanc are a perfect mirror for the fresh vegetable toppings, especially the bell peppers. The wine's acidity cuts through the richness of the cheese and makes the veggies taste even fresher and more vibrant.
Remember Your Pairings: Found a Sauvignon Blanc you loved with your veggie pizza? Log it in your Vinoh journal. You can add tasting notes, a rating, and even a photo. The next time you're having pizza, you'll know exactly what to reach for.
6. The Bold & Smoky: BBQ Chicken Pizza & Malbec
The Pizza: This pizza is a flavor bomb. It’s got sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, savory chicken, sharp red onions, and often some cilantro. It’s a bold, smoky, and slightly sweet combination that needs a wine that can stand up to it.
The Wine: Malbec, especially from Argentina, is the perfect candidate. It’s a full-bodied red wine that’s bursting with dark fruit flavors like blackberry and plum. It’s known for its smooth, velvety texture and often has a hint of smokiness or sweet spice on the finish.
Why it Works: Malbec is big enough to not be overpowered by the strong BBQ sauce. Its plush, fruity character complements the sweetness in the sauce, while its subtle smoky notes are a natural fit for the chicken. It’s a bold pairing for a bold pizza.
7. The Clean & Creamy: White Pizza & Pinot Grigio
The Pizza: A white pizza, or pizza bianca, skips the tomato sauce. Instead, it features creamy cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella, often with garlic, olive oil, and maybe some herbs like rosemary. It’s all about rich, creamy, and delicate flavors.
The Wine: Pinot Grigio (pee-no gree-jee-o) from Italy is the ultimate crisp, clean white wine. It’s light, dry, and has subtle flavors of green apple, pear, and citrus. It’s not a wine that shouts; it’s one that refreshes.
Why it Works: A heavy, oaky white wine would crush this pizza. But a light, unoaked Pinot Grigio is perfect. Its crisp acidity cuts through the creamy richness of the ricotta and mozzarella, keeping the whole experience from feeling too heavy. It acts as a palate cleanser, highlighting the delicate garlic and herb flavors without stealing the spotlight.
8. The Heavy Hitter: Meat Lover's Pizza & Cabernet Sauvignon
The Pizza: This is the heavyweight champion of pizzas. It’s loaded with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham—a full-on protein assault. It’s fatty, salty, and incredibly rich. You need a wine that can go toe-to-toe with it.
The Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon (cab-er-nay so-vin-yawn) is a big, bold, full-bodied red wine. It’s high in tannins (that drying sensation) and has powerful flavors of black currant, black cherry, and cedar.
Why it Works: Remember how tannins love protein? The high tannins in the Cabernet Sauvignon bind to the proteins in all that meat and cheese. This makes the wine taste incredibly smooth and velvety, and it helps break down the richness of the pizza. The wine’s bold fruit flavors can also stand up to the intense savory notes of the meat. It’s a power-on-power pairing that just works.
9. The Spicy & Savory: Spicy Sausage Pizza & Nero d'Avola
The Pizza: We’re talking about a pizza with crumbles of spicy Italian sausage, maybe some fennel seeds, and a good kick of red pepper flakes. It’s savory, aromatic, and has a definite spicy heat.
The Wine: Nero d'Avola (nay-ro da-vo-la) is a fantastic red wine from Sicily. Think of it as a cousin to Cabernet Sauvignon, but with a bit more rustic charm. It has bold black fruit flavors, a hint of spice, and moderate tannins, making it robust but still smooth.
Why it Works: The generous, ripe fruit flavors in Nero d'Avola provide a perfect counterpoint to the heat from the spicy sausage. The wine is bold enough to match the intensity of the sausage and fennel, and its smooth tannins work well with the meat and cheese. It’s a hearty, rustic pairing that feels authentically Italian.
10. The Universal Soldier: Any Pizza & Dry Rosé
The Pizza: What if you’re having a party and there are five different kinds of pizza on the table? Or you just can’t decide? You need a wine that can handle everything.
The Wine: A dry Rosé. Not the sweet White Zinfandel of the past, but a crisp, dry Rosé, usually from Provence in France or a good domestic producer. It has the red fruit flavors of a red wine but the bright, crisp acidity of a white wine.
Why it Works: Rosé is the ultimate utility player. Its acidity is fantastic with tomato sauce and veggies. Its light red berry flavors are great with pepperoni and sausage. It’s served chilled, which is refreshing against any richness or spice. It truly is the one wine that can bridge the gap between a Margherita and a Meat Lover’s. When in doubt, Rosé is the answer.
Turn Your Pours into an Adventure with Vinoh
Learning these pairings is a great start, but the real fun begins when you start exploring and discovering your own preferences. That’s where Vinoh comes in.
Vinoh is more than just a journal; it’s your personal wine companion.
- Log Your Pairings: Snap a photo of your wine and pizza. Add your own notes. Did the Barbera really sing with the pepperoni? Did you prefer a California Pinot Noir over a French one with your mushroom pizza? Vinoh helps you remember.
- Learn as You Go: Scan a bottle and get instant access to facts, critic scores, and food pairing suggestions. Compare your own palate to the experts.
- Meet Soma, Your AI Assistant: This is where it gets really cool. Soma is the AI that learns what you like. Ask it anything: “Soma, find me a good Malbec under $15 for my BBQ pizza,” or “I liked this Sangiovese, what else should I try?” Soma turns every pour into a new adventure tailored just for you.
- Map Your Journey: See all the wines you’ve logged on a world map. Track your journey from the vineyards of Tuscany to the coasts of California, one delicious bottle at a time.
Pizza night is about enjoyment and discovery. The right wine can elevate that experience from good to unforgettable. So next time you order a pie, don’t just grab any bottle. Try one of these combos, see what you think, and start your own pairing adventure.
Happy pairing
