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What kind of wine would you pair with spaghetti with meat sauce?

Friday Feb 26, 2010

I am just now discovering that I love wine and have so far only tried sweet dessert wines. I want to drink wine with meals, so what Wines are good with pasta or say chicken?

My first rule of wine, only drink wine that you and your guests like, period.

Dont let a food or wine snob bully you in to drinking something you dont like because "it will overwhelm the seafood" or some other such nonsense. I drink red wine with chicken all the time, because that is what I like, not once has that chicken ever been able to tell the difference.

That said, normal pairing with pasta and meat sauces would be chianti, merlot, cabernet, shiraz. All pretty full bodied dry to semi dry red wines. These wines are best at room temp or cellar temps.

Here is a thought, if you are new to wine and have a taste for the sweeter wines, yet you need a red wine, try lambrusco. Hey, it’s italian ! Lambrusco is quite sweet, the only red wine you should serve cold.

If you want a white wine, not so sweet as a desert wine, a german spatlese would be a good choice or perhaps gewurvitzraminer (spelling ?)

If you want to drink the only true american wine, go buy a bottle of concord wine. Concord is the most prolific american dark grape. The wine tastes like concord grape juice pretty much. I am a dry wine guy, but I love a glass of concord from time to time.

Wine is a wonderful thing, keep trying new wines, you will find if you are like most people that your taste will shift to the drier wines over time. You will come to like that tanin feel, (pucker) and appreciate the subtle characteristics of the wine when not masked by so much sweetness. And, hey, if you dont, who cares, keep drinking what you like.

If you want a red that still has some sweet to it, in the desert catagory, pick up a bottle of Port some time. You dont need to spend a lot. Port is quite a bit stronger than wine, it is wine that has been fortified with more sugar during fermentation to boost the alchohol. After that is done, the wine is stabilized with preservatives and more grape juice is added. What you end up with is, a bit of kick, like a mild brandy, but with a sweet wine finish.

Look for inexpensive wine tastings in your area. It’s a great way to explore.

enjoy,
John

50 Comments »

ole man:

cote Du Rhone,Chianti,grenache
"general rule" red meat/red sauce=redwine
white meat/cream sauce= white wine
spaghetti and meat sauce screams a nice light red,low tanins ,smooth, and very drinkable.
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February 26th, 2010 | 5:51 pm
shan:

A safe bet for any meal is a nice White Zinfandel. Its not too sweet but not dry either. Try it once and you’ll be hooked. I would also recommend riesling.
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February 26th, 2010 | 6:39 pm
Ashley:

I would say Pinet Grigio or a White Zinfandel
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February 26th, 2010 | 7:22 pm
deepthrought:

Chianti Classico!!
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February 26th, 2010 | 8:02 pm
vjvl:

Depending upon how spicy the sauce is, you may want to try a Chardonnay. It has enough flavour that a spicy/highly flavored sauce won’t overpower. I’ve had good luck using an Unoaked Chardonnay since I prefer a lighter wine (My spaghetti sauce is flavorful without being spicy). Regular Chardonnay has a heavier flavor (more oak/tannins) and would go better with spicy/strongly flavored food.

Here is a column that I read to learn more about wines and wine/food pairings – http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/dan-berger-on-wine.html
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February 26th, 2010 | 8:52 pm
oikos:

You need someting that will stand up to the taste of the sauce and not taste like water. I’d suggest one of the Italian reds, such as barbasco or a vintage chianti. For the chicken, it depends on how it is prepared but whites are traditional.
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February 26th, 2010 | 9:04 pm
truenorth675:

Will assume red sauce:
Chianti
Tempranillo
Sangiovese
Malbec
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February 26th, 2010 | 9:48 pm
tx_rainbo:

Merlot.
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February 26th, 2010 | 10:34 pm
sushi:

The best one is Franzia wine. I tried them all and that ones pairs up perfectly with pasta, meats, potatos, plus is perfect for dessert. I’m getting so hungry just typing. I think I can drink an entire box all by myselfs!

But seriously, that one is perfect with anything italian, or any type of savory dishes, such as Chicken Parmiggiana, or lassagna.
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February 26th, 2010 | 10:42 pm
Doran P:

Zin or a Cab such as Rancho Zabaco and Estancia, J. Lohr
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February 26th, 2010 | 10:48 pm
Bobbi O:

Spaghetti with sauce, I would go Chianti, Pinot Noir or a red table wine like Fess Parker’s Frontier Red. You want something lighter and fruitier to counter act the spices in red sauce. Merlot is too heavy (and it was never meant to be drunk straight, anyways), Bordeaux are great with italian food, but a little pricey for spaghetti or pizza.

With chicken I would go with a heavier Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay.

Personally, I believe that friends don’t let friends drink pink wine unless it’s from Provence.
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February 26th, 2010 | 10:57 pm
abbbijo:

With pasta it really depends what kind of sauce
i would drink red wine because it has more flavor that white, and you need that for a strongly flavored tomatoy sauce.
But with chicken, maybe chicken alfredo, you might want white wine.

It really depends on what you like, and what flavors go well with each other.

Chef Miles, my culinary arts proffessor always says "the only rule is; there are not rules" she totally ripped that off, but she’s right.
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February 26th, 2010 | 11:23 pm
David F:

As a man who has owned a wine store for 25 years may i recomend a wine called Luna di Luna. It is very good with anything with meat sauce. Also there is Dancing bull which is very good also.
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February 26th, 2010 | 11:40 pm
booboo:

A red table wine, not too dry, not too sweet. Cianti is a good traditional Italian wine and good with most pasta sauces, but experiment a bit to see what you like. A good place to start is to go to a wine store, not just a liquor store, and talk to
someone there about different types of wines and the best way to enjoy them. Welcome to the club.
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February 27th, 2010 | 12:28 am
sniceicle89:

im pretty sure that u dont use an extra dry wine if u would like to drink wth that…im not a wine drinker im more into the vodka
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February 27th, 2010 | 12:34 am
Vania J:

white zinfadel
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February 27th, 2010 | 12:58 am
Ask Mike:

Hi,

For any Italian dishes a classic red wine is usually a good decision. For cooking, the chef may use that of "wet wine or cooked down wines"to achieve ultimate flavor and variety in our food. When purchasing a wine at the restaurant, ask first what they recommend. This recommendation is helpful because there are so many brands out there and most are not as clean and well preserved as some others that are bought from over the counter so to say. When you get a wine from the store, do this first, taste it and be sure to choose one that is with crisp taste to the lips. For me, I have preferred a nice Sangria or Chardinet. A Merlot is also good. Many of these have the taste of not too sweet or tart and that is what is good because most what you are looking for is well grown grapes that achieved the best juices. Also, many pastas that are prepared come with sauces that already have sweetness added from the tomatoes to the sauce. Being sure to not select a sweet wine again and mixing in as extra is not always good because then you lose the feel for your food in general. Red wine is best for many saucy foods including steaks and other soup dishes and seafood delicacies. White wines I have noticed seem to be best when accompanied with a baked good and most cheeses.
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You can’t go wrong with an Italian red wine — chianti (fuller flavored), valpolicella (lighter and slightly fruity), sangiovese (plummy but not overpowering), montepulciano d’Abruzzo (great all-round red) or barbera (slightly spicy) would all be a good choice for pretty much any red pasta sauce.

For example: Last night I made pasta alla puttanesca (tomato sauce with fresh garlic, minced anchovies, olives and capers; sadly we didn’t have any fresh Italian parsley or basil, but it was still delicious) and served it with an inexpensive but reliable sangiovese di Puglia (San Giorgio, around US$6 retail). The San Giorgio is a fair wine but a great bargain, drinkable and the perfect thing for spaghetti, ravioli, pizza, or lasagne. A sangiovese or montepulciano is going to have enough acid to stand up to the tomatoes, enough fruit to avoid being overpowered, and enough body to go with just about any red pasta sauce you can throw at it.

If your wine merchant doesn’t have much from Italy, some nice alternatives would be a California merlot or most zinfandels (the red versions, not the whites or "blush" versions), an Australian shiraz, a Spanish tempranillo or French varieties such as cotes du Rhone or Beaujolais. I served another inexpensive cotes du Rhone (La Ferme Gicon, about US$7.50) the last time I made spaghetti in meat sauce, just last week. If you’re looking for something that tastes good with food, isn’t meant to impress anyone, and gives good value for the money, La Ferme Gicon is a fine choice for an everyday red.

Buon appetito!

February 27th, 2010 | 1:36 am
smurf 49:

i would say red wine.
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February 27th, 2010 | 2:02 am
regerugged:

Chianti Classico would be the best red wine.
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February 27th, 2010 | 2:29 am
Candace C:

It depends on how strong the spices in the spaghetti sauce are. If the sauce is spicy, you could go with a bland white table wine or a very spicy red cab sauv. If the sauce is milder in flavor, a medium body merlot or pinot noir would pair well. But as with any wine choice, the decision is up to you. Your palate will let you know which choice is best for you. Best wishes!
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February 27th, 2010 | 2:41 am
Hitesh:

Red wine a lot of people in italy drink it u should try it
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February 27th, 2010 | 3:24 am
Mr.NastytheLickmaster:

any white wine or chablis, try fat ass wine.
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February 27th, 2010 | 3:35 am
blackbyrd:

Red
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February 27th, 2010 | 4:21 am
xyz:

Carlo Rossi Paisano
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February 27th, 2010 | 4:42 am
phlada64:

You could go anywhere from a generic chianti to a very nice pinot noir. They have pinot grigio that goes very well with chicken. Some of the vineyards in Northern California have some very good and not terribly expensive wines.
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February 27th, 2010 | 4:55 am
J-ME:

A nice Lambrisco or a merlot would be perfect. The Lambrusco is a little sweeter than the merlot, but both very good.
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February 27th, 2010 | 5:39 am
crystal heart:

you can either use dry red or white wine. it creates a thick, rich sauce with a robust smell.
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http://www.wine and food pairing.com

February 27th, 2010 | 5:57 am
Linda S:

Oh who the hell cares drink bud wiser. but be sure it it bud lite. Merry christmas!
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February 27th, 2010 | 6:23 am
cancun1313:

Pick a deep red wine of your choice. Finding a wine you enjoy is part of the fun. Buy 2 or 3 different wines, and see what you enjoy best. Wine is good for you. Have fun.
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February 27th, 2010 | 7:01 am
doktrgroove:

Chianti, Merlot or Cabernet.

Actually, regardless of what the wine snobs might say, it’s whatever YOU prefer.
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February 27th, 2010 | 7:15 am
sky3000:

Diet Pepsi.
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February 27th, 2010 | 7:44 am
fxymama315:

I just got into wine too!
I love Rodney Strong(brand) Merlot with spaghetti and meat sauce. I think any type of Merlot or Chianti would go well.. Like the other answers, red wine w/ red meat and sauce. White wines like Pinto Grigio and White Zinfandel go with chicken, pork , and most desserts are best with like a Riesling wine.
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February 27th, 2010 | 8:13 am
birdfoot:

Go with an Italian red wine. An amarone would be best, but a bit pricey for simple spaghetti and meatballs. Try a chianti. Its a smooth, drinkable red whichcan cost under ten dollars!
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February 27th, 2010 | 8:39 am
♥inside lingo had me at hello♥:

the kind of wine you drink
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February 27th, 2010 | 8:53 am
crazeecatlady:

I’m a great believer in the notion that the right wine for a meal is the wine that you LIKE. The old rules are ok if you just HAVE to be rule-bound, but I say drink what you LIKE :-)
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February 27th, 2010 | 9:24 am
Lauren F:

For a spaghetti with meat sauce, go RED! Try Chianti, Shiraz, Rioja, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon…delicious.
For lighter foods like chicken or fish, or a pasta not in red sauce, some tasty whites: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc…
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February 27th, 2010 | 9:53 am
Just me:

Red wine
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February 27th, 2010 | 10:05 am
Brenda G:

a fine Red wine
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February 27th, 2010 | 10:14 am
can_can1:

Beringers Merlot Founders Estate is great!! I love it!
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February 27th, 2010 | 11:02 am
dieseldadd:

Since my wife fixes spaghetti with ground turkey breast, I always have White Zinfandel. It’s light, with a mild, cheerful taste. She drinks Sunset Blush, which is a bit sweeter, but still light red, and Red Delicious, which is a bit "fruitier", but again, light. All the "lightness" is due to our choice of ground turkey breast for our meat sauce. Obviously, if you choose beef for your meat sauce, you’ll most likely drink a darker red wine, with a variety of "fruity" choices. God Bless you.
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February 27th, 2010 | 11:15 am
girl2dolphin:

you can never go wrong w/ an aussie wine. yellowtail is one of the best that’s actually affordable. the markets are always having sales on ‘em. black swan is really good…not sure where it’s from tho, i think australia.

the thing about wine is you drink white wine w/ sea food and sometimes chicken and red wine w/ everything else. tho it really depends on what you prefer.
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February 27th, 2010 | 11:57 am
CaliG:

LAMBRUSCO REUNITE!
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February 27th, 2010 | 12:29 pm
Whimsy:

Gallo Family Vineyards, Sonoma County (California) abernet Sauvignon "Sonoma Reserve" 2003

I love Italian foods and have become a bit of a connoisseur on what goes well with Italian foods.

Goda! ( Enjoy)
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February 27th, 2010 | 12:38 pm
Courttt:

any red wine
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February 27th, 2010 | 12:56 pm
grotereber:

Chianti classico.

With pasta or chicken, it depends on how the dish is prepared. Chardonnay almost always works well with these, although with BBQ chicken: beaujoulais is a must.
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February 27th, 2010 | 1:02 pm
toddk57@sbcglobal.net:

Well : I would reccomend Table Wine it is Pink Chablis the
best Drink that would go with Dinner and
yes great idea of course
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Beer , Wine & Spirit

February 27th, 2010 | 1:10 pm
bobbi34:

marliot, carberay, or other any other red wine
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February 27th, 2010 | 1:23 pm
angie:

try something red- a chianti would be ideal, but merlot works well. a full-bodied red goes well with red sauce. i would try some different types and just pick what works for you. good luck!
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i’m italian, and a wine drinker.

February 27th, 2010 | 1:43 pm
Husker41:

Spaghetti with meat sauce? Chianti goes extremely well with that.

Chicken? Pinot grigio is hard to beat.
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February 27th, 2010 | 1:56 pm
~BrownEyedGirl~:

Chianti, Merlot, or a nice Shiraz would be good.
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February 27th, 2010 | 2:09 pm
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