23 pairings
Chardonnay
Pollo arrosto with rosemary with Pomino Benefizio Riserva: Roast chicken with oak-aged Chardonnay.
The short answer
Across 53 paella pairings on 53 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Chardonnay (23), Macabeo (9), Xarel-lo (9) and Parellada (8). For example, Pomino Benefizio Riserva from Tuscany with pollo arrosto with rosemary: Roast chicken with oak-aged Chardonnay.
By style: sparkling 21, white 14, red 12, rosé 5, fortified 1 of the 53 pairings.
The wines that turn up most: DOCG Franciacorta Satèn, DO Penedes, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Pomino, DOQ Priorat, AOC Cotes de Provence Cru Classe.
The best grapes for paella
9 pairings
Macabeo
Wild mushroom paella with III Lustros Gran Reserva Brut Nature: Saline drive and 80-month autolytic depth match earthy mushroom rice.
9 pairings
Xarel-lo
Wild mushroom paella with Ex-Vite Brut Nature: Saline drive and dried-fruit lees register match earthy mushroom rice.
8 pairings
Parellada
Wild mushroom paella with Coquet Gran Reserva Brut Nature: Saline minerality and dry-fruit autolytic depth complement earthy mushroom rice.
6 pairings
Grenache
Paella de marisco with Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva: Saffron seafood rice finds a serious partner in this gastronomic rosado.
5 pairings
Montepulciano
Arrosticini di pecora with Valentini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo: Abruzzo's skewered mutton meets the wine's savoury spice without overwhelming its evolved tannins.
3 pairings
Pinot Noir
Anatra arrosto with Berlucchi Palazzo Lana Extrême Riserva: Roast duck's nutty fat finds a peer in the wine's toasted hazelnut and graphite finish; eight years on lees handle the bird's depth.
2 pairings
Cinsault
Saffron paella with Chateau Galoupet Cru Classe Rose: Mediterranean rice dish meets the wine's tangerine-saffron register and body.
Bottles to pour with paella
The best-rated pairings, one per producer and no more than two from any one region, so the list travels.
Arrosticini di pecora
Abruzzo's skewered mutton meets the wine's savoury spice without overwhelming its evolved tannins.
Arroz de pato
Duck rice with its crisped chouriço top finds the balsamic and spice register in the nose.
Paella de marisco
Saffron seafood rice finds a serious partner in this gastronomic rosado.
Anatra arrosto
Roast duck's nutty fat finds a peer in the wine's toasted hazelnut and graphite finish; eight years on lees handle the bird's depth.
Arroz de marisco
Lees-derived weight stands up to the tomato-rich shellfish broth while citrus drive keeps the dish bright.
Pollo arrosto with rosemary
Roast chicken with oak-aged Chardonnay.
Wild mushroom paella
Saline drive and 80-month autolytic depth match earthy mushroom rice.
Arrosticini
A no-oak Montepulciano with fresh acidity is the local pairing for skewered mutton.
Pollo arrosto
Roast chicken classic with oak-aged white.
Pollo arrosto al limone
Lemon roast chicken meets the wine's brioche and yellow peach; medium body holds up to the bird's roasted fat.
Lamb arrosticini (Sicilian-style skewers)
Fresh mineral character and medium tannins complement the grilled lamb skewers.
Saffron paella
Mediterranean rice dish meets the wine's tangerine-saffron register and body.
Taste the pairing: food and wine in Franciacorta
Food and wine tastings you can book in Franciacorta, one of the regions whose bottles our editors pour with paella.
From Bergamo: Winery Tour in Franciacorta with Lunch
Savor a traditional lunch in a restaurant, visit an iconic Franciacorta winery to try some famous sparkling wines, and take scenic tour of Franciacorta and Lake Iseo o...
Wine Tour and Tasting of Lugana Wines near Sirmione
This experience offers an authentic introduction to the wines of Lake Garda in a welcoming, family-run winery. Unlike larger commercial wineries, guests enjoy a more p...
Tasting with winery visit in the heart of Franciacorta
Live an authentic experience in the heart of Franciacorta, in a family-run winery where tradition, passion and attention to detail meet. During the visit you will di...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Franciacorta (10) · Cooking classes in Franciacorta (9) · Food tours in Franciacorta (5) · Wine tours and day trips in Franciacorta (8) · All wine and food experiences
pairings by region
- Franciacorta: 16 pairings, Franciacorta food and wine pairing
- Penedes: 11 pairings, Penedes food and wine pairing
- Abruzzo: 5 pairings, Abruzzo food and wine pairing
- Tuscany: 4 pairings, Tuscany food and wine pairing
- Dão: 3 pairings, Dão food and wine pairing
- Priorat: 3 pairings, Priorat food and wine pairing
- Languedoc: 2 pairings, Languedoc food and wine pairing
- Provence: 2 pairings, Provence food and wine pairing
- Rioja: 2 pairings, Rioja food and wine pairing
- Bierzo: 1 pairing, Bierzo food and wine pairing
- Jerez & Sherry: 1 pairing, Jerez & Sherry food and wine pairing
- Ribera del Duero: 1 pairing, Ribera del Duero food and wine pairing
Wine with paella, FAQ
What wine goes with paella?
Across 53 paella pairings on 53 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Chardonnay (23), Macabeo (9), Xarel-lo (9) and Parellada (8). For example, Pomino Benefizio Riserva from Tuscany with pollo arrosto with rosemary: Roast chicken with oak-aged Chardonnay.
Red or white wine with paella?
Most often sparkling: of the 53 paella pairings, the split by style is sparkling 40%, white 26%, red 23% and rosé 9%. The bottles below show which of each work and why.
Which wine regions are best with paella?
The regions with the most paella pairings on our bottle pages are Franciacorta, Penedes and Abruzzo.