What Italian food goes with Pinot Grigio? (2023)

What Italian food goes with Pinot Grigio?

Pinot Grigio is famous on the north east coast of Italy where fish and seafood reign supreme, so that's where you start. So think of shrimp, crab, lobster and mussels. Tomato, vegetable and basil dishes. A little carbonara or a seafood risotto.

As a delicate, neutral wine, pinot grigio pairs best with light, fresh flavours. Think summery dishes like salads, chicken and seafood, as well as light pasta dishes and risottos, and avoid heavy sauces in favour of creams and vinaigrettes.

The Sprig and Rose Pinot Grigio pairs perfectly with creamy pasta carbonara. This light-bodied wine shows flavors of tart lemon, crisp green apple, and nectarine with a hint of honey.

Seafood pastas possess a mild and fresh flavor, and are best paired with a refreshing and slightly bitter wine like Pinot Grigio or Proscecco. For vegetarian pasta dishes, or ones with lots of vegetables we'd recommend a light wine with notes of citrus to highlight the freshness of the vegetables.

Even with cooked tomato sauces, we shouldn't forget white wines. A good tomato-based pasta sauce can excel with pinot grigio, bringing out the fruit flavors in a wine that otherwise can be nondescript. A good pinot grigio is also great with chocolate brownies, but that's another story.

Since most kinds of pasta are made with an acidic tomato sauce, you need to pair it with an acidic red wine, preferably Merlot, Shiraz, Zinfandel, Nebbiolo, or an acidic white wine, like Rose, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, or Sauvignon Blanc. If you do not select an acidic wine, the taste will be bland.

Aromatic white wines like medium-dry Riesling and Pinot Gris as well as fruity rosés complement spicy chicken dishes.

Pinot Gris pairs best with zesty dark chocolate, particularly semisweet chocolate with orange. Orange zest and the medium-bodied wine pairs well, enhancing both flavor profiles.

Pinot Gris Food Pairing

Pinot Gris with its zesty and refeshing acidity pairs really well with fresh vegetables, raw fish and lighter meals. Fish and shellfish are classic pairing partners with Pinot Gris.

What dessert goes with Pinot Grigio?

Pinot Grigio with Desserts

The sweet style of Pinot Grigio can be good with lighter desserts such as lemon pie, crème brulée or berry desserts with mascarpone or ricotta.

If you're looking for the best wine with spaghetti, look for something with a good amount of acidity to balance out the acidic tomato sauce. My go-to reds are Merlot, Zinfandel, and Nebbiolo. If you're craving something white, you could also consider Pinot Grigio, a dry Riesling, or Sauvignon Blanc.

Italians only drink wine or water while eating

Never ask for cappuccino together with pasta or a tea with a steak. Nobody will refuse to serve you what you want but the disappointment in your waiter's face will be almost unbearable.

Light, Dry Whites (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, etc.) Serve at 45–49°F. Tip: The lighter the wine is in color and style, the colder it should be served to maintain its acidity and freshness.

Dry, austere, and crisp, chenin blanc and pinot grigio are the wines to reach for when serving lean, white fish cooked simply. Flounder, halibut, walleye, snapper, raw clams, or oysters all do well with these wines.

Creamy Camembert, Brie or other soft, surface ripened cheeses pair so much better with white wine. Chardonnay shines with these types of cheeses. Anything from a steely Burgundian Chablis to an unoaked or moderately oaked style works. And, preferably one from a cooler climate with bright acidity usually works.

The best wines to pair with Spaghetti & Meatballs are medium-bodied Italian red wines such as Chianti Classico, Barbera, Primitivo, Valpolicella and Montepulciano.

Pesto Pasta

To pair your pesto dish with wine, consider the herb as the centerpiece of the meal. Try a herb-driven wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, or Catarratto to pair with your pesto pasta.

Meat (bolognese, spaghetti with meatballs, sausage-based sauces) is a logical partner for Sicilian and Puglian reds (especially Primitivo), Sangiovese, Rosso di Montalcino and inexpensive Barberas. Zinfandel is good too.

What chocolate goes with Pinot Grigio?

Pinot Gris pairs best with zesty dark chocolate, particularly semisweet chocolate with orange. Orange zest and the medium-bodied wine pairs well, enhancing both flavor profiles.

White Wine (Dry)

Dry white wine like Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc pair best with fish like cod and tilapia. The earthiness of the pour enhances the flavors of these fish, and plays well on the palate.

Sparkling whites with light sweetness and sweet wines like Muscat pair well with berries, while fruits like apples and pears go good with whites in the mid-sweetness range such as Pinot Grigio. Very dry wines like Sauvignon Blanc pair well with fruits like bananas as well as with dried fruits.”

Dry White Wine

Dry whites pair the best with vegetables, especially roasted vegetables, and fish. Try a white fish, like halibut, with roasted carrots or zucchini.

Pinot Grigio with Desserts

The sweet style of Pinot Grigio can be good with lighter desserts such as lemon pie, crème brulée or berry desserts with mascarpone or ricotta.

Ferrero Rocher

These decadent balls of hazelnut chocolate covered in toasted hazelnuts pair well with Brachetto d'Acqui, a slightly sweet Italian red wine, or Shiraz.

Aromatic white wines like medium-dry Riesling and Pinot Gris as well as fruity rosés complement spicy chicken dishes.

Fish in tomato sauce can be paired with both white and red wines. If you use a red wine, it should be a light red wine. You will almost never want a big red wine with fish. But a light red wine can go quite well with fat or big-flavor fish dishes like tuna, salmon, and mackerel.

Lighter, fruitier wines work best colder, between 45°F and 50°F, or two hours in the fridge. Most Italian whites like Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc also fall in that range. Wine should rarely be colder than 45°F, unless they're porch pounders on a hot day.

Light, Dry Whites (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, etc.) Serve at 45–49°F. Tip: The lighter the wine is in color and style, the colder it should be served to maintain its acidity and freshness.

Which is sweeter Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay?

Chardonnay is typically a bit sweeter than pinot grigio, thanks to the pinot's higher acidity. Chardonnay is also drier, and its rich, buttery taste is typically instantly recognizable.

White meat such as chicken or turkey breast tends to pair well with white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, while dark meat like duck and other game matches nicely with medium-bodied red wines such as Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Most Italian-style wines like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Nero d'Avola, Fiano and Vermentino are all going to be good options with pizza.”