For many diners, wine improves the experience of a fine-dining Italian meal. It can enhance the taste of Italian food, evoke history, and add to the discussion around the table.
Many diners aren’t sure what wine pairs best with their Italian dish of choice, but luckily, these food and wine pairings don’t need to be complicated. L’allegria, a proud recipient of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Award, explains what Italian food and wine pairing to include with your meal during your next visit.
About Italian Food and Wine Pairings
You can pair an Italian wine with different appetizers, main courses, or desserts, or have a few sips as a palate cleanser between courses. Try pairing wines with foods of similar characteristics or compositions. Lighter white and rosé wines tend to pair better with appetizers and light dishes, while red wines pair best with more hearty, substantial meals.
White Wines/Rosés
Italian white wines and rosés are dry, light, and crisp with sweet, fruity tastes. They are great to have with appetizers like breadsticks, fruit and cheese, or a salad. These wines pair well with white meat, seafood, or vegetable dishes. They also go well with pasta meals that feature creamy or oily sauces, such as fettuccine
alfredo, primavera, or risotto. Pick one to have with any light dessert you choose to complete your meal.
Along with rosé, our Italian white wine selection includes:
- Arneis
- Chardonnay
- Falanghina
- Greco di Tufo
- Fiano
- Pinot Grigio
- Soave
- Sauvignon Blanc
Red Wines
Compared to white wines and rosé, red wines are heartier and darker. Many include a taste of red fruits, like cherry, raspberry, or strawberry. Red wine is an excellent choice to pair with red sauce pasta dishes, pizza, or a meat entrée featuring beef, lamb, pork, or veal. Pick one with a fruity or chocolate taste to have with dessert.
Our Italian red wine selection includes:
- Amarone
- Barolo
- Barbaresco
- Barbera d’Asti
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chianti
- Chianti Classico
- Dolcetto
- Merlot
- Primitivo
- Sangiovese
- Valpolicella
Ask your server about any of our wine offerings during your visit.
Other Ways Wine Adds to a Fine Dining Italian Meal Experience
Italian food and wine pairing can also be an enjoyable conversation topic during the fine dining experience. Like Italian foods, Italian wines are influenced by the finest traditions of Italian cuisine, as well as the land and history that produced them.
Wine is an integral part of Italian culture and history, with many vintage wines named for the region where their grapes come from. This may lead to interesting talking points about family and personal histories. It can also prompt discussion among wine enthusiasts about what kinds of wine they’ve had, or trips they’ve taken that included wine tasting.
Experience Fine Italian Food and Wine Pairings at L’allegria
Don’t hesitate to ask your waiter for wine recommendations or suggestions for an Italian food and wine pairing. It’s up to you to decide what wine to pair with your meal, so choose one that you feel will make the most of your fine dining experience.
Visit L’allegria in Madison, New Jersey, serving all of Morris County, where we offer a quintessential Italian dining experience that will make you feel like you are in Italy. Our cuisine tells stories of authenticity and passion, and you can select any of our dishes for a culinary experience that will bring you to the heart of the tradition. Contact us today to book a reservation for your next lunch outing, dinner gathering, or event.