If you're like many people, one of your favorite things to do on a night out is to visit an Italian restaurant and order a nice plate of your favorite pasta dish. However, although you're probably aware that choosing the right wine to enjoy with a meal can make good food even better, you probably also know that the wrong wine can cause flavors to clash in an unpleasant manner, and you may be struggling with how to choose the right wine to pair with pasta.
As a general rule of thumb, the type of wine you choose should be the same color as the pasta sauce — white sauce with white wine and red wine with red sauce. However, not all red and white wines are created equal when it comes to pairing with pasta dishes. The following are just three of the many fine wines that make perfect partners for your favorite pasta.
Chardonnay With Butter-Based Pasta Sauce
Chardonnay is a smooth, medium-bodied white wine with distinct buttery notes, making it a natural pairing partner for any type of pasta that features a butter-based sauce. A simple dish of garlic-butter sauce sprinkled with fresh spring herbs takes on a rustic elegance when a chilled glass of Chardonnay is a part of the picture. Other options include butter and black pepper sauce on spaghetti, butter and Parmesan sauce over penne pasta, and butter and dill sauce with seafood fettucini.
Chianti With Marinara Pasta Sauce
The quintessential sauce of traditional countryside trattorias, marinara sauce is used in a wide variety of pasta dishes. It's most often paired with red meat entrees such as spaghetti and meatballs, but it can also serve as a standalone sauce for non-meat eaters. It features a bright, robust flavor profile that's ideal for partnering with Chianti wine.
Sparkling White Zinfandel With Any Type of Pasta Sauce
Sparkling white Zinfandel goes with everything from rich red pasta sauces to light, airy ones, making it the perfect choice for those times you're not sure what to order and don't want the wrong wine choice to have a negative effect on your meal. Wines with this type of versatility are extremely rare, but something about carbonated wines that make all types of food taste good. As an added bonus, sparkling wines bring a festive note to the table, so even an ordinary dinner on a weeknight can seem like a special occasion.
If you're unsure, you can also ask a server at an Italian restaurant what they would suggest.
Share25 February 2020
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