How to pair wine with pasta dishes

Anyone who eats pasta dishes on a regular basis knows how difficult it can be to match a wine perfectly with a pasta dish, particularly a tomato based one! Pasta dishes can contain an array of flavours, and it’s a fine line between complementing the dish and overpowering it. Check out our top tips on pairing wine with different pasta dishes!

Pairing wine with tomato based pastas

When it comes to tomato based red sauces, the key is the acidity. You’re going to want a wine that has good acid in it as well, or else the wine will just seem flabby against the dish. Your best bet is a deep red such as Sangiovese and Zinfandel. These wines are spicy and peppery, with a hint of berries or dark cherries, and are certain to delight when paired with a thick, tomato-based red sauce dish. Try Pinot Noir if your red sauce is thinner and lighter.

Pairing wine with cream based pastas

Cream sauce pastas, while rich and luscious, can overwhelm the palate in some wine pairings. A creamy dish needs a creamy, buttery wine, like an unoaked Chardonnay.

The creaminess of the wine helps to highlight flavours and texture in the meal, and vice versa.

Pairing wine with spicy pastas

If your dish has chilli, be versatile and go for a light red or crisp white. A Riesling, Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc will all work well. Stay away from oaked whites as they will dumb down the spicy characteristics of the dish.