10 Pizza and Wine Pairings You Need in Your Life

🍷 + 🍕 = a match made in heaven.

Sade Adeyina

October is National Pizza Month, so naturally I'll be having a slice pie or five. And what goes better with pizza than wine? Nothing—except, maybe, the right *kind* of wine. We talked to Ashley Ceraolo, SVP of Marketing and Beverage at California Pizza Kitchen, to get the recs.

Sade Adeyina

"Here's an interesting case where opposite flavors attract for one out-of-this-world pizza and wine pairing flavor experience. Pairing a sweeter white wine like riesling with salty ham or bacon balances the flavor, with sweet complementing salty. Together, the salty/sweet combo creates a very smooth and delicious pairing."

Try: Wolffer Estate Grapes of Roth Riesling

Sade Adeyina

"Sauvignon blanc is a light and crisp wine with zesty flavors of ripe tropical fruits. For pizzas featuring fresh, crisp veggies, I recommend a wine with more tartness or 'green' flavors, such as a New Zealand sauvignon blanc, which typically features bell pepper notes."

Try: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc

Sade Adeyina

"Light seafood dishes take on more flavor when paired with equally delicate white wines. With light, citrusy notes and a crisp finish, pinot grigio enhances the light, briny flavors of a scampi-topped pizza."

Try: Tommasi Le Rosse Pinot Grigio

Sade Adeyina

"Cream-based sauces elevate the natural 'creamy' notes in a rich, buttery chardonnay."

Try: Clos Du Bois Chardonnay

Sade Adeyina

"Nothing pairs better than earthy mushrooms and a medium bodied pinot noir full of earthy, spice notes."

Try: Buena Vista Pinot Noir

Sade Adeyina

"A smooth and rich pinot pairs perfectly with cheeseburgers alone or on a pizza. The flavor of the ground meat paired with a flavorful pinot noir is similar to the flavors of enjoying a steak dinner."

Try: La Crema Pinot Noir

Sade Adeyina

"Typically made with cabernet, merlot, or cabernet franc, red blends are very approachable wines, and a favorite of millennials interested in the multitude of flavors the blends offer. A great red blend leaves a lasting impression of flavor and texture on the palate and goes well with salty, red meats on a meat lover's pizza."

Try: SAVED red blend

Sade Adeyina

"A medium body-style cabernet sauvignon with no oak makes this a really friendly and approachable wine that's great with flavors of fresh tomatoes and herbs."

Try: Santa Julia Cabernet Sauvignon

Sade Adeyina

"The BBQ sauce that serves as the base of the pizza has a sweeter, smoky kick that pairs well with a fruit-forward wine, like most types of pinot noir."

Try: Mark West Pinot Noir

Sade Adeyina

"A soft and smooth red is the perfect accent to grilled meats and Mexican flavors and pairs well with the unique 'sauce' on this pizza—tangy cilantro pesto and a side of bright, homemade salsa verde."

Try: Coppola Merlot


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