Best Wines To Drink with Pizza

Wine and pizza are a great match. Whether you’re a fan of classic Neapolitan or New York-style pizzas, or if you love specialty styles like Chicago deep dish, Sicilian (aka Grandma-style), Detroit-style, or California-style pies, there’s a pizza for everyone. Discover the best wines with pizza and take your meal to the next level.

Whether cooked at home or picked up fresh from a restaurant, pizzeria, or pizza truck, pizza is one of the most versatile dishes there is.

From its U.S. debut by Italian immigrants in the 1800s to its rapid spread coast-to-coast, there’s an endless choice of toppings, styles, and wine pairing possibilities to explore.

Like wine, pizzas have distinct flavors and textures, with certain toppings, sauces, and bases changing the flavors and their ideal wine pairings.

These characteristics will also determine which wine is best to pair with your pizza of choice.

No matter whether you know your calzone from your Chicago deep dish, we’ll help you discover the best wine to pair with pizza.

Wine and Pizza: The Basics

Despite pizza being a national dish of Italy, don’t think you’re restricted to only accompanying it with Italian wines.

With so many wine varieties available, you might ask, “What’s the best wine to pair with pizza?” or “What’s the best red wine to pair with pizza?” The answer depends on the pizza itself. What toppings are you going to use? What cheese? Are you going for a red or white base? The great thing about pizza is that it’s super versatile and customizable, meaning there’s a combination for everyone and every wine—red, white, rosé, and sparkling.

Browse our vast selection of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines.

When choosing a wine, you don’t just want to pay attention to flavor. A wine’s body, sweetness, and acidity all play a large part in how well it will pair with different pizza toppings—you can’t treat pepperoni and vegetables the same way! You should also pay attention to a wine’s tannins, as bold tannins can clash with some toppings and dampen the flavors.

We’ve done all the hard work for you and pulled together the nation’s favorite pizza toppings, pairing them with a wine or two that’ll complement the chosen toppings. All you have to do is cook the pizza (or place the order) and enjoy!

Some wine varieties, such as Grenache rosé, Petite Sirah, and Gamay, aren’t produced in Italy but still make excellent pairings with certain pizza toppings.

The Best Wines To Pair with Pizza

Pepperoni

Wine pairing: Sangiovese or Cabernet Franc

It probably comes as no surprise that pepperoni is the country’s favorite pizza topping. With tangy spices, including cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, and high fat content, every bite of a pepperoni slice bursts with flavor.

To balance the intense flavors out, you’ll need an equally robust wine to pair with it. Enter...Sangiovese. It’s high in acidity and tannins, meaning it won’t be overpowered by the pepperoni pizza’s characteristic salt and oiliness, and its juicy, red-fruited flavors will complement the spiciness of the meat.

Why not try the Saracosa 2020 from Tuscany, perfect for red sauce pizzas? But if Sangiovese isn’t one of your favorites, a complex, medium-bodied Cabernet Franc is another delicious option.

Sausage

Wine pairing: Syrah

If sausage is your go-to pizza topping, you’ll need a bold wine to highlight its rich and savory flavors.

The best wine to pair with sausage pizza is Syrah—this grape variety is known for its intense, dark flavors, which are well-matched to the rich, fennel-driven sausage typically used for this topping. It’s a medium- to full-bodied red wine, high in tannins and alcohol, and has a medium acidity, making it perfect for pairing with this meaty pizza topping.

Paired with a Californian Syrah or one from France’s Rhône Valley, you’re sure to have a hearty meal.

Search our luscious range of Syrah red wines to pair with your Sausage Pizza.

Veggie

Wine pairing: Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner

Using only vegetables for toppings is a fresh, lighter way to enjoy a tasty pizza. Vegetables like bell pepper, asparagus, artichoke, and olives can be tricky to pair with wine but not impossible. A glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner is a great choice with this pizza topping.

Both Sauvignon Blanc and Grüner Veltliner are dry and light- to-medium-bodied, with high acidity and very few (if any) tannins. And, because they often have flavors similar to fresh herbs, asparagus and white pepper, you could mistakenly think they were produced just for veggie pizza toppings!

Try a peppery Austrian Grüner Veltliner or a zingy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to complete the menu.

Meatlovers Pizza

Wine pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz

As the name suggests, a Meatlovers Pizza is laden with delicious meats from a mix of different types of meats like pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon to Buffalo Chicken. The higher tannins of a Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or Shiraz will be a match for the fattiness in the meats and complement your pizza choice to perfection.

Browse our selection of full-bodied red wines to find your ideal match for your Meatlovers Pizza.

New York-Style Cheese Pizza

Wine pairing: Rhône Reds

The classic combo of tomato sauce and melted cheese with basil is a New York favorite pizza topping.

Although comforting and delicious for many pizza lovers, the New York-Style Cheese Pizza is a simple favorite. Jazz up this simple pizza by pairing it with a classic red blend originating from the Côtes-du-Rhône region of France.

Red Côte-du-Rhône wines are typically made from a blend of—Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre and are sometimes referred to as ‘GSM’ wines (the acronym for the three grape varieties used in the wines). This blend works together beautifully: the Grenache adds a bright fruitiness to the blend, with flavors of raspberry and black cherry, while the Syrah and Mourvèdre add depth and peppery warmth. These wines are bold and full-bodied (a perfect complement to the tomato flavor and texture of the cheese) and have just the right amount of freshness to cut through the oily richness of the Mozzarella.

White Pizza

Wine pairing: Chardonnay

For those who like to buck tradition, white pizza is a dream match to refreshing and lighter wines.

With a cheese base (and no tomato sauce), the classic white pizza is topped with garlic, olive oil, salt, and (of course) cheese! It’s luxurious, creamy and rich. Some pizza lovers = add further toppings, like pepper, herbs or spinach, to make it their own. Creamy dishes pair well with creamy wines, meaning a white wine is on the cards— think Chardonnay, and you’d be on point.

Buttery, smooth, and with just the right level of medium acidity and body, Chardonnay’s ripe, citrus flavors make it a great partner for such a richer dish like white pizza. A classic California Chardonnay will suit the pizza’s creaminess perfectly.

Shop our selection of Chardonnay wines.

Hawaiian

Wine pairing: Riesling or Zinfandel

Whether you love it or think it’s a crime against all things foodie, ham and pineapple pizza is just too popular not to include here.

With a mix of sweet and savory flavors, thanks to the controversial pineapple, this pizza needs a wine with a light body and higher acidity (and no tannins) to round it out, making aromatic Riesling a great option. Almost like a palate cleanser, its acidity elevates the dish. A crisp Washington Riesling with floral and citrus flavors would make the perfect partner for this pizza topping.

But if Riesling isn’t your wine choice, opt for a fruitier, sweeter rosé wine like a California White Zinfandel.

Margherita

Wine pairing: Dry Rosé

An Italian classic, a Margherita is a delicious pizza made with a lighter, fluffier dough that’s topped with three simple ingredients. Mozzarella, tomato/marinara sauce and basil.

These light and pure flavors call for an equally light and focused wine, making a dry rosé the ideal choice. With a natural sweetness coming from the tomato base and the aromatic basil, a dry but fruity wine is your best bet against overwhelming these delicate flavors. A crisp finish is also crucial to creating a mouthwatering pairing.

Dry rosés can be produced from a variety of grapes like Syrah, Garnacha, and Pinot Noir and are often crafted from a blend of different locally grown grapes. For a Margherita, why not try a vibrant dry rosé from France or a summery rosé from Italy with hints of watermelon and strawberry?

Shop our luscious rosé wines now.

BBQ Chicken

Wine pairing: Malbec

Sweet, filling, and maybe a tad sticky, BBQ chicken pizza combines two favorite foods into one hearty dish.

With BBQ sauces ranging from sweet to tangy to spicy (and maybe all three at once!), a wine pairing is needed that can match all the different styles. We’d recommend a fruit-forward Argentinian classic Malbec, for a BBQ chicken pizza.

Full-bodied with plenty of smooth tannins and medium- to low-acidity, Malbec’s rich plum, vanilla and cocoa flavors make it a tasty accompaniment for this flavorful pizza.

Shop our range of Malbec wines.

Other Food & Wine Pairing Articles You May Be Interested in

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelby, Personal Wine Advisor

I found myself in the world of wine a decade ago. I’ve travelled, I’ve tasted, I’ve met some of my wine “rockstars!” I pride myself on being a resource for those seeking their own wine journey.

WSET – Level 2 Wines & Spirits Certified

Beefy Cabs • Aged Malbec • Southern Italian Blends • Portuguese Reds • Châteauneuf- du-Pape (my favorite!)

kelby@laithwaites.com | (203) 523-2159

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