114 pairings
Chardonnay
Asparagus risotto with Reserve della Contessa Bianco: Creamy lees-driven texture matches risotto; saline minerality balances asparagus.
The short answer
Across 792 pasta, pizza and risotto pairings on 735 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Chardonnay (114), Sangiovese (70), Pinot Noir (54) and Corvina (51). For example, Reserve della Contessa Bianco from Alto Adige with asparagus risotto: Creamy lees-driven texture matches risotto; saline minerality balances asparagus.
By style: red 346, white 277, sparkling 107, rosé 31, orange 6 of the 792 pairings.
The wines that turn up most: DOCG Franciacorta, DOC Collio, Wachau DAC, Valpolicella Classico, DOCG Franciacorta Satèn, Sicilia.
The best grapes for pasta, pizza and risotto
70 pairings
Sangiovese
Pici cacio e pepe with Le Pergole Torte: Pepper-and-pecorino pasta meets the wine's tobacco-and-iron savouriness.
54 pairings
Pinot Noir
Pasta with rich sauces with Garlider Blauburgunder: Producer-recommended pasta pairing.
51 pairings
Corvina
Pasta e fagioli with Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore: The wine's tart cherry and herbal register cuts through the starchy, fatty bean and pasta broth.
45 pairings
Rondinella
Risotto all'Amarone with Tezza Brolo delle Giare Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena Riserva: The estate names this as its recommended typical dish.
40 pairings
Pinot Blanc
Risotto with herbs with Falkenstein Pinot Blanc: Medium body and acacia structure handle creamy risotto.
38 pairings
Riesling
Roquefort on walnut bread with Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese: Honeyed sweetness tames the salty blue funk in a classic sweet-and-salty match.
37 pairings
Merlot
Roquefort with walnut bread with Chateau Pape Clement: Salty, piquant blue cheese amplifies the wine's dark fruit while the walnut bread adds textural contrast.
Bottles to pour with pasta, pizza and risotto
The best-rated pairings, one per producer and no more than two from any one region, so the list travels.
Roquefort on walnut bread
Honeyed sweetness tames the salty blue funk in a classic sweet-and-salty match.
Saffron-spiced rice pudding
Cuvée's saffron aromatic locks onto dessert; honey-apricot profile handles dairy.
Agnolotti del plin in butter
The wine's elegant red-fruit lift carries the meat-stuffed pasta's richness.
Asparagus risotto
Light-bodied aromatic white pairs naturally with asparagus; mineral lift balances the dish.
Pici cacio e pepe
Pepper-and-pecorino pasta meets the wine's tobacco-and-iron savouriness.
Sea urchin pasta
The wine's briny mineral core pairs perfectly with oceanic richness.
Sweetbreads
Fine tannin and integrated acidity cut the richness without overwhelming it.
Vol-au-vent with sweetbreads
Offal and puff pastry need a wine with weight and acid; honey lifts the cream sauce.
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.
Pan-fried sweetbreads
Delicate offal needs Sylvaner's high acidity and structured spice.
Pasta con le sarde
Frappato's brightness and Nero d'Avola's depth together navigate the sardine-fennel-currant complexity.
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 pasta, pizza and risotto.
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: 88 pairings, Franciacorta food and wine pairing
- Tuscany: 71 pairings, Tuscany food and wine pairing
- Sicily: 60 pairings, Sicily food and wine pairing
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia: 55 pairings, Friuli-Venezia Giulia food and wine pairing
- Valpolicella: 49 pairings, Valpolicella food and wine pairing
- Piedmont: 47 pairings, Piedmont food and wine pairing
- Alto Adige: 33 pairings, Alto Adige food and wine pairing
- Veneto: 30 pairings, Veneto food and wine pairing
- Abruzzo: 29 pairings, Abruzzo food and wine pairing
- Wachau: 23 pairings, Wachau food and wine pairing
- Alentejo: 22 pairings, Alentejo food and wine pairing
- Baden: 21 pairings, Baden food and wine pairing
Wine with pasta, pizza and risotto, FAQ
What wine goes with pasta, pizza and risotto?
Across 792 pasta, pizza and risotto pairings on 735 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Chardonnay (114), Sangiovese (70), Pinot Noir (54) and Corvina (51). For example, Reserve della Contessa Bianco from Alto Adige with asparagus risotto: Creamy lees-driven texture matches risotto; saline minerality balances asparagus.
Red or white wine with pasta, pizza and risotto?
Most often red: of the 771 pasta, pizza and risotto pairings, the split by style is red 45%, white 36%, sparkling 14% and rosé 4%. The bottles below show which of each work and why.
Which wine regions are best with pasta, pizza and risotto?
The regions with the most pasta, pizza and risotto pairings on our bottle pages are Franciacorta, Tuscany and Sicily.