Wines And Pasta: The Perfect Pairings
If you like Italian food and always wanted to eat like them then you must also drink like the Italians. We all know that wine and pasta go well together, and you will see them paired in Italian cuisine. Here we will explore the various types of pasta that pair well with different wines. We will also go through details of how a pasta dish can be elevated by combining it with the most suitable wine.
Which wine goes well with pasta?
In short, we can say that most types of wine pair perfectly well with pasta. In case the wine happens to be your favorite wine then the pairing will certainly taste good. However, the pairing will also depend upon type of pasta dish you're making and the wine you want to highlight in your meal. There are several wines which perfectly compliment pasta dishes. Let us look at few examples.
If you are serving pasta with Alfredo and similar other creamy sauces, then they pair very nicely with white wines that are light bodied.
Olive oil-based or light pasta dishes become balanced when they are paired with dry white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc.
If you are combining green pesto with pasta, then it will have light and bright flavor profile. You can complement such a dish using a rustic Sauvignon Blanc.
Normally sauces with tomato base are high in acid. However, you can balance the same using medium bodied mellow wines such as Zinfandel.
Lastly, pasta sauces which are spicy pair well with dry and sharp wine and help to develop a splendid contrast of flavors.
It is worth mentioning here that when you are selecting wine you must consider the ingredients that will be served along with pasta. Let us look at a few examples.
If you are planning to serve a pasta which has tomato sauce base along with meats, then it can be paired with Cabernet Sauvignon and other similar full-bodied wines.
Fresh and mild flavors are present in seafood-based pastas. You can pair such pasta dish with slightly bitter and refreshing wine.
If you have a vegetarian pasta dish or preparing pasta which will have plenty of vegetables, then it will be better to select light wine having citrus notes. This will help to highlight the freshness present in vegetables.
Pasta And White Or Red Wine
White or red wines can compliment any type of pasta dish. This is because wines have different flavor profiles and notes. For instance, if pasta has fresh tomato sauce then dry white wine will perfectly compliment this pasta dish. But, the same dish will not pair well with certain wines such as sweet white wines. In case the tomato sauce also has meat in it then it will be able to highlight red wines that have tart taste.