Pizza and wine are a match made in foodie heaven. Its humble beginning as a simple lunch for working-class Neapolitans on the move has since transformed into one of the world’s most popular meals. Now there’s a pizza for everyone, whether you enjoy yours authentically wood-fired and crispy, soft and chewy or indulgently loaded in American-style.
With the huge variety of pizza toppings, there’s an equal array of potential wine pairings. The cooking method, flavours, texture, sauce and base can influence the ideal wine for your pizza. Yet with endless combinations, how can you find the perfect wine to enjoy with your slice? Should you choose red, white, rosé or sparkling wine – and what other elements should you consider? Our wine and pizza pairing tips will help you make a mouthwatering match every time.
Pairing wine and pizza – the basics
Looking for similar flavours in the wine and pizza toppings is a safe move, as is combining complementary flavours, such as dark and spicy reds with with meat toppings.
A wine’s acidity, body, tannins and sweetness also affect how well it will pair with pizza. For example, a wine that works with pepperoni probably won’t pair as well with a veggie pizza.
We’ve selected some popular pizza toppings and found the perfect wines to drink with them. And, despite pizza’s Italian origins, you don’t have to limit yourself to Italian wines. There’s a world of wines to enjoy with pizza, from bright Aussie Sauvignon Blancs to rich Argentinian Malbecs.
Browse our vast selection of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines.
The best pizza and wine pairings
Margherita
Wine pairing: Sangiovese or dry rosé
Who doesn’t love the Neapolitan combination of tomato sauce, fresh basil and Mozzarella? Margherita pizzas taste naturally sweet due to the tomato sauce and basil, with a delicate flavour thanks to the addition of creamy Mozzarella cheese. A savoury Sangiovese-based Chianti from Tuscany is a natural partner to classic San Marzano tomatoes. A dry rosé is another good choice, with a crisp finish to cut through the richness of the cheese and fruity notes to complement the tomato and basil.
Dry rosés are made from various grapes, including Syrah, Grenache and Pinot Noir. Look for a light dry rosé from regions such as Tasmania and Adelaide Hills. These wines are typically dry, with a crisp, refreshing character and strawberry, watermelon and citrus flavours.
Shop our full selection of delicious dry rosé wines.
Pepperoni
Wine pairing: Sangiovese or Cabernet Franc
Pepperoni is arguably one of the world’s most popular pizza toppings. The flavour-packed sausage is high in fat and delivers a kick of heat from cayenne pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
A pizza topping as intense as this needs a bold, robust wine that can withstand the heat. Pepperoni pairs best with a wine with plenty of tannins and acidity to avoid being overpowered. Sangiovese or Cabernet Franc are good choices, and their juicy red fruit flavours are well met by the pepperoni's spiciness.
Try our Collezione di Paolo Chianti 2021, a silky Sangiovese-based blend. Or how about a complex, award-winning Cabernet Franc such as Cape Jaffa The Aura Mount Benson Cabernet Franc 2022 from South Australia?
Hawaiian
Wine pairing: Riesling
Pineapple as a topping is guaranteed to divide opinion among pizza lovers. Yet, if you love this fruity sweet-savoury combination, you’ll want a wine with a light body and high, refreshing acidity to match the pineapple zing.
Enter Gavi (Cortese), with its mineral, citrus crispness. Riesling is also a great choice – known for its bright acidity and complementary floral aromas, a sip of cool Riesling after a bite of Hawaiian pizza also acts as the perfect palate cleanser.
Shop our full range of international Riesling wines.
BBQ Chicken
Wine pairing: Malbec
BBQ chicken pizza combines two top flavours into one hearty pizza.
From sweet to spicy and tangy, barbecue sauces vary, so you need a versatile wine pairing to match this style of pizza.
Step forward Malbec – this Argentinian icon is a fruit-forward red with moderately low acidity and smooth tannins. Its juicy blueberry and red plum, sweet tobacco and vanilla notes add complexity to deep and flavourful barbecue sauces.
The award-winning Alambrado Malbec 2023 from Mendoza is silky, smooth and loaded with ripe fruit flavour.
Seafood
Wine pairing: Vermentino or Pinot Grigio
A pizza topped with prawns, calamari or shellfish, such as scallops, can be a light yet indulgent treat. Seafood pizzas often include ingredients such as garlic, parsley and lemon, accentuating the seafood’s delicate flavours.
A glass of Vermentino, a light-bodied white wine known for its high acidity, citrus flavours and hints of saline minerality, is perfect with this type of pizza. Its bright acidity and citrus and mineral notes match the seafood’s natural sweetness. If you can’t get your hands on a bottle of Vermentino, Pinot Grigio is a delicious alternative.
Shop our expressive white wine selection now.
Meaty
Wine pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz
Pepperoni, beef, chicken, sausage, bacon or ham – whatever type of meat you love, you can probably find it on a pizza.
But with all the additional texture, flavour and fat content, you’ll need to pair your pizza with a wine that won’t be overpowered. Robust, high-tannin red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz do just that. They also have complementary dark fruit and dried herb notes for a more complex mouthful.
RedHeads Coco Rôtie 2020 is an award-winning Shiraz Viognier from the Barossa Valley – bold, weighty yet surprisingly aromatic, it’s the perfect match.
Veggie
Wine pairing: Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner
A veggie pizza is a fresh, lighter way to enjoy a tasty pizza. Vegetables, including olives, peppers, artichokes and asparagus, are notoriously tricky to pair with wine, but with the help of a tomato base and plenty of cheese, it’s possible.
Try Sauvignon Blanc and Grüner Veltliner – both are a good match for a pizza topped with fresh vegetables. These wines are dry with a high acidity, light- to medium-bodied and little to no tannins. Characteristic hints of fresh herbs and white pepper also make both wines particularly savoury.
Try a peppery Austrian Grüner Veltliner or a zingy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to complete your meal.
