When it comes to Italian cuisine, few dishes are as iconic as lasagna. This layered pasta dish is loaded with cheese, meat, and vegetables, making it a hearty and filling meal.
If you’re looking for the perfect wine to pair with your lasagna, look no further than red wine with acidity and fruitiness. Chianti Classico, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nero d’Avola, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel are all great choices for red wine lovers.
Why red wine? The layers of cheese, meat, and vegetables in lasagna require a wine with enough flavor to stand up to the dish.
Meanwhile, the tomato sauce needs acidity to counter its tartness. Wines that are all tannin will taste like tin against the acidity of the tomato sauce.
Best Wine With Lasagna
Let’s look at some of the best wine choices for lasagna in more detail.
Lasagna And Chianti Classico
For the classic lasagna pairing, look no further than Chianti Classico. This wine is made with Sangiovese grapes and has flavors of cherries, plums, and a touch of spice. The acidity in this wine cuts through the richness of the dish, making it a refreshing and delicious pairing.
Lasagna And Dolcetto
Dolcetto is an Italian wine that is light-bodied with high acidity. It has flavors of black cherries and almonds. This wine pairs well with lasagna because the high acidity will cut through the richness of the dish. The cherry flavors will also complement the tomato sauce in the lasagna.
Lasagna And Barbera
If you’re looking for a wine to pair with lasagna, Barbera is an excellent choice. This Italian red wine has high acidity and moderate tannins, making it a perfect match for the rich flavors of lasagna. Barbera also has bright fruit flavors that can help cut through the heaviness of this dish. If you can’t find Barbera, another good option is Chianti Classico.
Lasagna And Nero D’Avola
Nero d’Avola is a wine that originates from Sicily, Italy. The wine is made from the Nero d’Avola grape, which is one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in Sicily. The wine has high acidity and moderate tannins, with flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum, and spice.
Nero d’Avola wine pairs well with lasagna because the acidity in the wine helps to cut through the richness of the dish. The moderate tannins in the wine also help to balance out the flavors of the lasagna.
Lasagna And Pinot Noir
Lasagna is one of those classic comfort foods that wine lovers enjoy pairing with their favorite red wines. But which wine should you choose? A Pinot Noir from Oregon or Burgundy in France? Perhaps a Barbera from Italy’s Piedmont region?
The answer, it turns out, depends on the type of lasagna you’re making. If your lasagna features a meaty ragù, then you’ll want to choose a wine with more body and tannins, such as a Chianti Classico or Nero d’Avola.
But if your lasagna is vegetarian or has a light tomato sauce, then you’ll want to go with a wine that’s a bit more acidic and fruity, such as a Dolcetto, Barbera, or Pinot Noir.
Lasagna And Zinfandel
A wine that is high in acidity, like a Zinfandel, is the best wine to pair with lasagna. The wine will cut through the richness of the dish and provide a refreshing contrast.
Zinfandel also has enough fruitiness to stand up to the tomato sauce in lasagna. If you are looking for a lighter wine to pair with lasagna, try a Pinot Noir.
Meanwhile, if you want a wine that will complement the meat in lasagna, go for a Nero d’Avola. This wine has enough tannins to provide a nice contrast to the fatty meats in the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Chianti Classico and Chianti?
Chianti Classico is a wine that originates from the Chianti region in Italy. The wine is made with Sangiovese grapes and has flavors of cherries, plums, and a touch of spice.
Chianti is also a wine that originates from the Chianti region in Italy. However, the wine is made with a blend of grapes, including Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Malvasia. The wine has flavors of cherries, strawberries, and a touch of spice.
What is the difference between Barbera and Nero d’Avola?
Barbera is a light to medium-bodied wine with high acidity and moderate tannins. Nero d’Avola is a full-bodied wine with high tannins and low acidity. Both wines are fruity, but Barbera is more tart while Nero d’Avola is sweeter.
Barbera is a good choice for lasagna because it can stand up to the strong flavors of the dish but won’t overwhelm the delicate balance of the sauce. Nero d’Avola is also a good choice, but its high tannins may make it too astringent for some people.
If you want to try a Nero d’Avola, look for one that is aged in oak barrels, as this will help soften the wine’s tannins.
Is it true that white wine goes with lasagna?
No, no, no. Just, no. Lasagna is a rich and hearty dish that pairs best with red wines. The acidity in white wine will be too much for the sauce and the cheese in lasagna. White wine is too light and will be overwhelmed by the strong flavors of the dish.
Does rose wine goes with lasagna?
No, rose wine is too light for lasagna. The dish will overwhelm the delicate flavors of the wine.
What about sparkling wine?
Sparkling wine can be a good choice for lasagna, especially if you are serving the dish with a light tomato sauce. The acidity in sparkling wine will help to cut through the richness of the dish.
If you want to try a sparkling wine with lasagna, look for one that is dry, as the sweetness in many sparkling wines can be too much for the dish.
Does cabernet sauvignon go with lasagna?
Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied wine with high tannins. The wine can be a good choice for lasagna, but it depends on the type of lasagna you are making.
If your lasagna has a meaty ragù, then the cabernet sauvignon will pair well with the dish. However, if your lasagna has a light tomato sauce, then the wine may be too astringent.
It is best to try a cabernet sauvignon with lasagna before serving it to guests, as not everyone enjoys the wine’s high tannins.
What about merlot and lasagna?
The bolder, the better – merlot’s soft tannins will get lost against the layers of cheese, meat, and vegetables in lasagna. You want a wine with enough flavor to stand up to this classic dish.
Meanwhile, the tomato sauce requires acidity – wines that are all tannin will taste like tin against the tartness of the tomato sauce. So skip the merlot and go for one of these reds instead.
Do any dessert wines go with lasagna?
No, dessert wine is too sweet for lasagna. The dish is already rich and hearty, so the sweetness of the wine will be overwhelming.
What should I serve with lasagna if I don’t want wine?
There are a few non-alcoholic options that go well with lasagna.
Sparkling water or seltzer water can help to cut through the richness of the dish.
Cranberry juice is also a good choice, as its tartness will complement the acidity of the tomato sauce.
Finally, coffee is a classic pairing for lasagna. The rich flavors of the coffee will help to balance the heaviness of the dish.
Final Words
Well, there you have it – wine pairings for lasagna that will make your taste buds tingle with delight. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or just looking to add a little bit of flavor to your lasagna, we’ve got the perfect wine pairing for you.
But be careful – once you start serving wine with lasagna, you may never go back to plain old water again. Cheers!