Being a New Yorker, pizza in my opinion is one of the best and most flavorful foods made. However, pairing wine with pizza can be a challenge. We need wines that are flexible enough to go with the pizza´s ingredients: tomato sauce, crust, cheeses, spices, and all of the various toppings.
When you think of wines that go well with pizza the first ones that come to the forefront of my mind are the ones from Italy. "Italian wines for Italian foods", Why not? A nice red Italian works since they are ripe, spicy, fruity and delicious. Alternatively, what about a light Beaujolais or classic Chianti?
What if you ordered a non-traditional pizza, ones with unusual toppings, for example, a Hawaiian with pineapple and ham? My pick then would be an off dry, slightly sweet Riesling served chilled. This wine will offset the ham and cheese while echoing the fruity aspect of the pineapple.
How about the situation of a stronger and bolder pizza like: sausage, mushroom, and onion? A full-bodied Chardonnay holds up to the sausage and the mushrooms, while pairing perfectly with the sweetness of the onions. In addition, a Zinfandel or Syrah has just the right fullness and zip to complement the pizza's hearty sausage and earthy mushrooms.
Pinot Noir is a red wine that is light enough not to overpower the pizza loaded with veggies. The wine's earthiness is an added bonus, as it complements the mushrooms on the pizza.
What about the cost of food and wine? A simple rule that I follow is that you should not pay more for the wine than the meal costs. Keep that in mind and your pizza & wine will not cost you too much dough!
Contributor: Joy Steinback (New York, NY)