Some of the basic characteristics of pizza include saltiness, high acidity (from the tomato sauce) and cheese and oil. When selecting a beer or wine to go with a pizza, you will want something that will enhance these flavors, not overpower them. As with any food pairing, a person’s particular tastes will come into effect, but generally, if a person likes a particular pizza, the beer and wine suggestions should complement their tastes.
Italy is known for both wine and pizza, but suprisingly, Italians rarely pair the two together. Most Italians consider the best wine for pizza to be beer, and think that only tourists or Americans consume the two together. That said, many people do prefer a nice glass of wine with their pizza. Here are some common pizzas and the wines they pair well with:
| Pizza |
Suggested Red Wine |
Suggested White Wine |
| Pepperoni |
Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris,
Pinot Noir, Sangiovese |
Sauvignon Blanc,
White Zinfandel |
| Cheese |
Cabernet Franc, Beaujolais,
Chianti, Sangiovese |
Pinot Gris, Riesling,
Chardonnay |
| Margherita |
Barbera |
Sauvignon Blanc |
| Pesto |
Negro Amaro |
Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Vegetarian |
Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chianti |
Sauvignon Blanc |
| Hawaiian |
Beaujolais, Pinotage |
Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling |
| Neapolitan |
Sangiovese, Valpolicella |
n/a |
| Seafood |
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon |
Chardonnay |
Sausage, Mushroom
and Onion |
Zinfandel, Syrah |
Chardonnay |
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Beer is a go-to beverage for most people when dining out, and with the proliferation of microbreweries in American, there is a limitless supply available to satisfy anybody's particular taste. When paired with pizza, beer is meant to cut through the oil and some of the acidity of the tomato sauce and complement the pizza, not overpower it. You will also want to take the toppings into account when pairing pizza with beer. Listed below are some suggested beer/pizza pairings.
| Pizza |
Suggested Beer |
| Italian Sausage Pizza |
Blonde Ale |
| Pepperoni |
Light Lager |
| Onion, Olive, Mushroom and Peppers |
Indian Pale Ale |
| Spinach and Broccoli |
Scotch Ale |
| Feta Cheese |
Wheat Beer |
| Bacon and Pineapple |
Porter or Stout |
| Eggplant with Parmesan Cheese |
Pale Ale or Amber Ale |
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