Pasta pairs wonderfully with many different wines. Eating your favorite pasta dish alongside the perfect glass of wine enhances the entire dining experience. However, knowing what wine to pair with which pasta isn’t always simple. There are a number of factors to keep-in-mind when deciding which wine pairs best with which pasta.
For example, the type of sauce, cheese, or meat you use will influence the wine you pair with it. If the wine overpowers or masks the flavor of the dish, it’s not the right pair for the meal (unless your pasta turns out bad). The perfect wine pairing balances the flavors of the pasta with the flavors of the wine, allowing both to shine without overpowering either one.
The team at Theorem Vineyards has put together a few tips to help find the perfect wine for any pasta dish.
Pairing Wine with Tomato-Based Pasta Dishes
Some of the most popular pasta sauces are tomato-based. Tomato-based pasta sauces, like bolognese (classic red meat sauce), typically have high acidity and should be paired with wines that have equal or higher acidity levels to create the perfect balance. If the wine doesn’t have a similar acidity level as the tomato-based sauce, it will dominate the wine and make it taste bland.
We recommend pairing red wine with your tomato-based pasta. A complex, layered wine that contains high tannin will make it perfect for pasta prepared with thick tomato-based content—giving the entire meal a perfect balance. We recommend pairing your red pasta with our Diamond Mountain Merlot from a one-acre block that we planted in 2014. This red wine is softer and plusher than our Voir Dire and will be a beautiful match to a strong pasta dish.
Pairing Wine with Cheese Sauces
Creamy pasta sauces pair wonderfully with dry, unoaked white wine that can cut through the rich flavors without overpowering the dish. Rich and creamy sauces like carbonara and parmesan pair beautifully with a rich Chardonnay. These wines complement cream-based sauces and also go well with stuffed or mushroom pasta. Its sweet and spicy flavor makes it suitable for spicy dishes as well.
We recommend pairing creamy sauces like carbonara or alfredo with our 2018 Moon Mountain District Chardonnay. Created with stainless steel, neutral French oak and blocked malolactic fermentation, it is crisp, refreshing, and citrus-driven. Our Chardonnay naturally has a little weight that will mirror the weight found in the cream sauce. Additionally, you will find the acidity will cut the richness of the dish and help wash the palate clean.
Pairing Wine with Herb Pasta
Herby pasta sauces, like pesto, pair beautifully with white wine to balance the flavors without dominating any of them. We recommend pairing your herb pasta with our 2018 Sauvignon Blanc. Theorem Vineyard’s 2018 Sauvignon Blanc leaps from the glass with a beautiful array of citrus, stone fruit, flowers, herbs, and minerals. Everything translates through the glass, with fresh peach and ripe melon exploding on the palate. Lime zest and rocks tangle with jasmine, adding verve and complexity as it rides the long, crisp beam of acidity. Our Sauvignon Blanc has more herbaceous notes that will mirror the beautiful herbal notes of a refined pesto dish.
Pairing Wine with Seafood Pasta
We recommend pairing seafood pasta, like spaghetti alle vongole or linguine with crab, with a dry, austere, and crisp white wine. White wines like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc are great options. These wines will cut through the natural richness of the fish while complementing their seaborne flavor. We recommend pairing your seafood pasta with our 2018 Sauvignon Blanc.
Experience a Singular Wine Tasting Event at Theorem Vineyards!
Don’t let your wine tasting experience stop at the dinner table. We want to host you for a visit so you can take a tour and enjoy a wine tasting. Drink our ultra-premium wines while taking in the breathtaking scenery of the redwood forest and hill vines. Theorem is nestled on the northern slope of Diamond Mountain in Calistoga, approximately 1,000 feet above sea level. This breathtaking location allows our wines to take advantage of the perfect combination of terrain, weather, and volcanic soils. Join us for an unparalleled wine tasting experience.
Contact us today to schedule a visit to our winery at (707) 942-4254 or fill out an online form!
