Sippin’ from the Canal 

What wine to pair with pizza 

By Dan Ravetto 

One thing we are all painfully aware of here in Fernley is most people feel we have more than enough car washes and pizza places. I will address what is the best beverage to consume while the bugs and road scum are being polished off your vehicle another time. Today we are going to talk about what is the appropriate wine to have with all that pizza we seem to be devouring.  

First of all, let us address the most basic of pizza and something most of us have either eaten many a slice of or at least purchased many of slice of for someone in our care: the kids’ cheese pizza. Since the education of our children should always be one of our top priorities, and it seems a natural progression from grape juice to wine, I suggest always serving the current vintage grape juice to your children with their cheese pizza. Welch’s is by far my default in this situation, their 100% Concord Grape juice is, in my opinion, simply the best. Ocean Spray Cran-Grape is a great alternative if the pie has an acidic red sauce that will hold up to the bold flavor of added cranberry juice.  

For the adults going for the classic slice of cheese with red sauce and wanting to pair it with something a little less basic, a GSM is a great choice (GSM is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre). Pinot Noir or Chianti classico are more likely to be available at the local pizza joint and will certainly hold up to the acidity of the red sauce. Bottom line, this classic pie should be paired with a light red wine.  

Pepperoni, that common pizza topping made with cured beef and pork mixed with a blend of spices that includes cayenne pepper, anise, paprika, and garlic powder, calls for a wine that can stand up to the intensity it brings to the entire pizza. Without a doubt Sangiovese is the correct call here. Cabernet Franc is a good alternative, but, again, may not be available by the glass at your pizza joint of choice. 

Margherita pizzas are delightfully light pies that showcase the delicate simplicity of tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. To many, this light pie is the definition of perfection and calls for an equally light wine. A dry Rosé is the perfect pairing here, however if you prefer to have red wine, look for a Garnacha. Whatever you do, stay with a light red so you don’t overpower the light flavors of the Margherita.  

Let’s get to the meat of the matter! Sausage and meat lover’s pizzas carry bold, heavy flavors. Fortunately, this lends you many options! If your pie is loaded with sausage, grab a Syrah. The spices in the sausage (fennel, anise, thyme, and oregano) will go very well with the dark fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, and blueberry you will get in the Syrah. If your pie is loaded up with all kinds of meats, then a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec will have the boldness to hold up to that savory pizza, plus the tannins and acidity will help cut through the fattiness of the meat.  

If you are looking for a delightful experience, try a white pizza. This is a pie that uses a cream-based sauce and avoids the traditional red sauce. From personal experience, I will say the team at Fire Forno, with their Pesto Lover and the Prosciutto pies, have absolutely nailed this. The fun part about white pizza is these cream-based pies go well with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. What’s that, white wine with pizza? Oh yea! A Sparkling Rosé with the prosciutto and arugula makes a lovely pairing. The light, bubbly notes won’t overpower the arugula, yet it cuts through the fattiness of the prosciutto. 

Last but not least, let’s talk about that pie you either love or hate, the Hawaiian Pizza. We are not going to debate whether pineapple belongs on a pizza, but we are going to look at a slightly sweet Riesling. The Riesling will go surprisingly well with the Canadian bacon while the sweetness will complement the much-debated pineapple. Alternatively, a fruity Zinfandel or Primitivo will also go well in this situation.  

Now, go out and order up your favorite pie! Give some of these suggestions a try, or don’t. Either way, be sure to Love the Wine You’re With!  

Cheers!