Have you ever wondered what makes spaghetti a popular dish across the world? This classic Italian treat is a versatile fare you can prepare in various ways. It’s not just easy to cook but satiates the taste buds too. What’s more, you can enjoy a delectable platter of spaghetti with chilled wine.
When paired well, a combination of spaghetti and wine can be a treat. But how do you decide which wine to have with your spaghetti? Well, the selection of wine depends on the ingredients in your spaghetti preparation.
Here, we will look at some of the perfect wine and spaghetti pairings. But before that, let us consider the factors that can impact your pasta pairings with wine.
Factors to Consider When Pairing Wine and Spaghetti for a Meal
Spaghetti is a traditional pasta dish that lends itself to various tastes depending on the sauces, spices, and other accompaniments used for cooking and dressing it. For instance, a dish of spaghetti cooked with cream may taste very different from one with tomato sauce.
You need to pair your spaghetti with a type of wine that can hold up against the added ingredients. The right wine can elevate your dish and enhance your experience of enjoying the treat. Here are the factors to consider when pairing wine and spaghetti:
Sauce Color
The choice of wine depends a lot on the color of the sauce that flavors the spaghetti. Red wine will be a good match if you opt for red sauces, such as Marinara or Puttanesca. White wine will make a fine choice for creamy sauces or olive oil-based sauces, such as Alfredo or Bechamel.
If your spaghetti dish has contrasting flavors, such as a combination of marinara sauce and shrimp, go for a light red or bold white wine, based on your preference.
Acidity Level
Spaghetti is an almost neutral dish at the basic level. It is the sauce that determines its acidity level. Generally, tomato-based sauces have high acidity, while cream-based sauces have low acidity levels.
So, wines with bright acidities, such as Lambrusco, will go well with tomato-based spaghetti and enhance the dish’s flavor. But it won’t be a good idea to combine such a wine with cream-based spaghetti as it may overpower the mild flavor of the dish. Wines having subtle acidity levels make an ideal choice for such dishes.
Body of the Wine
The body of the wine indicates the richness of the drink. Full-bodied wines tend to be smooth and rich. They can be an impressive accompaniment for cream-based or olive-oil spaghetti.
For instance, when you cook lasagna in the traditional style, you can enjoy it with a full-bodied wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. A lighter-bodied wine pairing will work great for tomato or red sauce-based spaghetti.
Barbera and Sangiovese can be good choices as they are relatively light-bodied. The best part is that you can always find a wine that pairs amazingly with your spaghetti dish, no matter how you prepare it.
Wine and Spaghetti Pairings That Are a Hit
When it comes to Italian wine and spaghetti, many combinations work well. We bring you 5 wine and food pairings that can accentuate your authentic Italian mealtime experience.
Chianti With Spaghetti and Meatballs
A meal of spaghetti and meatballs is a treat for most pasta enthusiasts. It’s a flavorful dish that tastes great, especially if you add homemade meatballs and Bolognese sauce to the recipe.
Chianti serves as a delightful wine pairing with this dish. It’s a red wine produced in the Tuscany region of Italy. This rich wine is medium to full-bodied and high in acidity. It enhances the flavor of the Bolognese sauce and the herbs used in the dish.
Additionally, the tannins in this variety of Italian red wine slice through the beef fat. So, while you enjoy the sip, the tannins help cleanse your palate effectively.
Pinot Noir With Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti carbonara is a rich dish. It tends to be heavy due to a sumptuous addition of eggs, bacon, and parmesan cheese.
You would need something light when you want a glass of wine to complement such a filling dish. Pinot Noir makes a fine pair for this dish. This lighter-bodied variety of red wine has a bright, refreshing acidity.
The fruit flavors and earthy undertones of this wine balance the dish’s richness. But it’s not the only wine taste that pairs well with this dish. You can also opt for a light-bodied Chardonnay if your preference is white wines.
Chardonnay With Spaghetti and Pesto
If you prefer your spaghetti to have herbaceous overtones, you can give them a good toss in pesto sauce. The main advantage of this dish is that you can experiment with various combinations of greens and nuts to infuse innovative flavors.
When pairing wines with this delicious dish, you need something light to medium-bodied. Chardonnay is a great option in this case. Made from green-skinned grape varieties, this low-acidic white wine can match your dish’s mood.
The light-bodied Sauvignon Blanc also makes for a fabulous pairing with this spaghetti dish as a savory, herbaceous wine.
Pinot Grigio With Seafood Spaghetti
Seafood pasta forms an essential part of coastal Italian cuisine. Adding a wide variety of clams, anchovies, shrimps, and other seafood varieties adds a unique flavor to this type of spaghetti.
Pinot Grigio is one of the best wine pairings for seafood-based spaghetti dishes, such as linguine cooked with clams. It is a deliciously lean, acidic, light-bodied white wine with a hint of refreshing bitterness.
But if your dish includes tomato, try an Italian rosé wine with it.
Zinfandel With Spaghetti and Arrabiata Sauce
Spaghetti tossed in Arrabiata sauce is the perfect treat for those who love digging into spicy pasta dishes. Arrabiata is a tomato-based pasta sauce made with dried red chili peppers.
To enjoy the flavor of this dish, you need a wine that has fruity-spiced flavors. Zinfandel is a great wine to pair with this dish. This fruity, rich red wine can help you enjoy the pleasant tingling sensation of the dish without overwhelming your taste buds. It has high acidity but is very light-bodied.
A dry Riesling is also a good option to pair with this dish. It is an aromatic white wine variety that can complement the spicy kick in this dish.
Wine and spaghetti are a delightful combination to enjoy. The key to making this pair work is to opt for the right kind of wine. If you end up with the wrong wine, it can ruin your experience.
Now that you know how to pair your spaghettis with the best wines, why not try out some of the combinations mentioned above?
