What Wine Goes With Pasta?
By Bordeaux Brian for Pair It & Share It · Published
BOTTOM LINE
Pair the sauce, not the pasta. Tomato and meat sauces (spaghetti, Bolognese, ragù) suit Italian reds like Chianti, Barbera and Montepulciano. Cream sauces suit Chardonnay. Pesto suits Vermentino or Sauvignon Blanc. Seafood and olive-oil pastas suit Pinot Grigio or Verdicchio.
Quick decision
- Spaghetti with tomato sauce→ Chianti or Barbera
- Bolognese or meat ragù→ Chianti Classico or Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
- Cream sauce (Alfredo)→ Chardonnay
- Pesto→ Vermentino or Sauvignon Blanc
- Seafood or clams→ Pinot Grigio or Verdicchio
- Garlic and olive oil→ Pinot Grigio
Tomato sauces need acidity
Tomatoes are acidic, so the wine needs high acidity too. Sangiovese (the grape in Chianti) and Barbera are built that way.
Cream needs body
Butter, cream and cheese sauces are rich. A medium-to-full white like Chardonnay matches their texture.
Green and seafood sauces
Basil, garlic, lemon and shellfish want crisp, unoaked whites. Coastal Italian whites like Vermentino and Verdicchio are natural fits.
| Sauce | Best bet | Also good |
|---|---|---|
| Marinara / tomato | Chianti | Barbera |
| Bolognese / ragù | Chianti Classico | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo |
| Alfredo / cream | Chardonnay | Soave |
| Pesto | Vermentino | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Clams / seafood | Pinot Grigio | Verdicchio |
| Carbonara | Verdicchio | Light Pinot Noir |
Common questions
- What wine goes with spaghetti and meatballs?
- A medium-bodied Italian red: Chianti, Barbera or Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
- Is red or white better with pasta?
- It depends on the sauce: red for tomato and meat sauces, white for cream, pesto, seafood and olive oil.
Choosing a glass? See the Sangiovese and Italian reds wine glasses its makers document, in the free Wine Glass Finder.
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About the author. Bordeaux Brian brings more than 30 years of wine experience and firsthand experience in vineyards and wine regions around the world. His focus is practical: helping people make better wine decisions without the intimidation.