Wine and pizza—two of life's greatest pleasures, and when paired correctly, they create a dining experience greater than the sum of its parts. As the sommelier and beverage director at PIZZAPIZZA, I'm often asked which wines work best with our menu. While the classic answer might be "drink what you enjoy," there's real magic to be found in thoughtful pairings that enhance both the pizza and the wine.

In this guide, I'll share some of our favorite pairings, breaking down why they work so well together and offering suggestions at different price points. Whether you're dining with us or recreating the experience at home, these recommendations will elevate your next pizza night.

The Basics of Pizza-Wine Pairing

Before diving into specific recommendations, let's cover some fundamental principles that guide great pizza-wine pairings:

  • Match intensity with intensity: Bold, robust pizzas need wines with enough body and flavor to stand up to them, while lighter pizzas pair best with more delicate wines.
  • Consider acidity: Pizza sauce is naturally acidic due to the tomatoes. Wines with good acidity can cut through the richness of cheese and complement the sauce rather than clash with it.
  • Think about fat-cutting: The combination of cheese, olive oil, and (often) meat creates a richness that benefits from wines that can refresh the palate between bites.
  • Regional connections: While not a strict rule, wines often pair naturally with the cuisine from their region—there's a reason Italian wines work so well with pizza!

Now, let's explore pairings for some of our most popular pizzas.

Classic Margherita: Celebrating Simplicity

Our Margherita Classica showcases the purest expression of pizza: San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. This simplicity makes it incredibly versatile for wine pairing, but also means the wine you choose will significantly impact the overall experience.

Perfect Pairings:

  • Chianti Classico: This Tuscan Sangiovese-based wine offers bright cherry notes, moderate tannins, and the acidity to complement the tomato sauce while respecting the delicate flavor balance.
  • Dry Rosé: Particularly those from Provence or Italian rosatos, these wines provide refreshing acidity, subtle red fruit flavors, and a crispness that enhances the fresh basil and clean mozzarella flavors.
  • Vermentino: For white wine lovers, this Italian varietal offers citrus notes, minerality, and a slightly herbal character that echoes the basil while cutting through the cheese's richness.
Margherita pizza with Chianti wine

Our Margherita Classica paired with a 2020 Chianti Classico

Canadian Forest: Earthy Umami Meets Maple Sweetness

Our signature Canadian Forest pizza features wild mushrooms, Canadian bacon, maple-infused caramelized onions, and smoked gouda. This combination of earthy, smoky, and subtly sweet flavors creates a more complex pairing challenge.

Perfect Pairings:

  • Pinot Noir: Particularly those from cooler climates like Oregon, Burgundy, or Ontario's Prince Edward County. The wine's earthy notes complement the mushrooms, while its bright fruit balances the maple sweetness.
  • Barbera d'Alba: This Italian red offers the perfect combination of acidity to cut through the rich gouda, with cherry-plum flavors that play well with the bacon and enough body to stand up to the overall richness.
  • Aged Chardonnay: For those preferring white, a lightly oaked Chardonnay with some age has developed nutty, mushroomy notes that echo the pizza's earthy elements while providing enough structure to complement the smoky flavors.

"The best food and wine pairings create a third experience that couldn't exist without both elements. When done right, it's not about the wine or the food separately—it's about the magic that happens when they come together."

— Olivia Chen, Sommelier at PIZZAPIZZA

Diavola: Spice and Fire

Our Diavola, featuring spicy sopressata, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of hot honey, presents a particularly interesting pairing challenge due to its heat level.

Perfect Pairings:

  • Lambrusco: This slightly sparkling red from Emilia-Romagna offers the perfect combination of fruity sweetness to tame the heat, refreshing bubbles to cleanse the palate, and enough body to stand up to the spicy salami.
  • Zinfandel: Particularly those from California with their bold fruit-forward profile and hint of sweetness, these wines can match the intensity of the spice while complementing the hot honey drizzle.
  • Gewürztraminer: This aromatic white offers a subtle sweetness and exotic lychee notes that can tame the heat while providing enough intensity to stand up to the bold flavors.

I've noticed that many guests initially question pairing a white wine with a spicy pizza, but are pleasantly surprised by how well a slightly off-dry Gewürztraminer works with our Diavola. It's a perfect example of how sometimes the less obvious choice can create the most memorable pairing.

Forager's Delight: Truffle, Mushroom, and Umami

Our vegetarian Forager's Delight with wild mushroom medley, truffle cream, fontina, thyme, and garlic confit creates a deeply savory, umami-rich experience that calls for wines with similar depth.

Perfect Pairings:

  • Nebbiolo: Particularly Barolo or Barbaresco if celebrating, or a Langhe Nebbiolo for everyday enjoyment. These wines offer truffle and forest floor notes that echo the pizza's earthy character, with enough structure to complement its richness.
  • Aged Champagne: A vintage Champagne with some age has developed bready, yeasty, sometimes mushroomy notes that create a beautiful harmony with the truffle and wild mushrooms.
  • Savagnin from Jura: This oxidative white wine style from eastern France offers nutty, umami characteristics that mirror the pizza's flavor profile in an unexpected but delightful way.
Wine cellar at PIZZAPIZZA

A glimpse of our carefully curated wine collection

Northern Lights: Seafood Sophistication

Our Northern Lights pizza features smoked salmon, crème fraîche, capers, dill, and red onion on a white base with lemon zest. This unique creation bridges Italian technique with Canadian coastal influences.

Perfect Pairings:

  • Franciacorta: Italy's answer to Champagne, these sophisticated sparkling wines offer the acidity to cut through the richness of the crème fraîche while complementing the delicate salmon.
  • Dry Riesling: Particularly those from Alsace or Canada's Niagara Peninsula, these wines offer citrus notes that echo the lemon zest, with enough acidity to balance the rich elements.
  • Sancerre: This Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc provides herbaceous notes that complement the dill, with a minerality that pairs beautifully with the smoked salmon.

Beyond Pizza-Specific Pairings: Building Your Wine Knowledge

While specific pairings are helpful, understanding the principles behind them allows you to create your own successful combinations. Here are some additional tips:

Regional Italian Wines

Italy offers a treasure trove of wines perfectly suited to pizza, often at excellent value. Beyond the ones already mentioned, consider:

  • Montepulciano d'Abruzzo: Medium-bodied with soft tannins and juicy red fruit, this versatile wine works with many tomato-based pizzas.
  • Etna Rosso: These Sicilian reds made from Nerello Mascalese offer smoky, mineral qualities that complement wood-fired pizzas beautifully.
  • Soave: A crisp, almond-noted white that pairs wonderfully with white pizzas or seafood toppings.

Canadian Wines That Shine

At PIZZAPIZZA, we're proud to showcase exceptional Canadian wines that pair beautifully with our menu:

  • Niagara Peninsula Gamay: With bright red fruit and subtle earthy notes, these light-to-medium bodied reds are versatile pizza partners.
  • Okanagan Valley Syrah: For our meatier pizzas, these peppery, moderately tannic reds offer the perfect balance of fruit and spice.
  • Nova Scotia Traditional Method Sparkling: These crisp, elegant bubbles rival Champagne in quality and pair beautifully with almost anything on our menu.

Wine Pairing at Home: Practical Tips

If you're enjoying takeout from PIZZAPIZZA or making your own pizza at home, here are some practical tips:

  • Serving temperature matters: Many red wines are best slightly cooler than room temperature (around 16-18°C or 60-65°F), while most whites should be cool but not ice cold (around 10-12°C or 50-54°F).
  • Decant young reds: If serving a younger, tannic red wine, decanting for 30-60 minutes can soften it and make it more pizza-friendly.
  • Consider progression: If enjoying multiple pizzas, plan your wine progression from lighter to fuller-bodied, just as you would with a multi-course meal.
  • Don't overthink it: While thoughtful pairings can elevate the experience, remember that pizza and wine are fundamentally about enjoyment. Trust your palate!

Wine By The Glass at PIZZAPIZZA

We've carefully curated our by-the-glass selection to offer excellent pairings for every pizza on our menu. Our staff is always happy to make recommendations based on your specific order and preferences. Currently, some of our most popular by-the-glass options include:

  • Poggio Anima "Raphael" Trebbiano d'Abruzzo (Abruzzo, Italy)
  • Pearl Morissette "Cuvée Black Ball" Riesling (Niagara Peninsula, Canada)
  • Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Rosé (Loire Valley, France)
  • Occhipinti "SP68" Rosso (Sicily, Italy)
  • Malivoire Gamay (Niagara Escarpment, Canada)
  • Fontodi Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)

We also offer rotating seasonal selections and special bottles that aren't listed on our main menu—just ask your server about current offerings.

Final Thoughts: Wine as Part of the Experience

At PIZZAPIZZA, we believe that wine isn't an afterthought—it's an integral part of the dining experience. Our wine program reflects the same philosophy as our food: respect for tradition, emphasis on quality ingredients, and a willingness to innovate where it enhances the experience.

Whether you're a wine enthusiast or just beginning to explore, we hope these pairing suggestions inspire you to experiment and discover new combinations that delight your palate. And remember, the best pairing is ultimately the one that brings you joy.

Next time you visit us, don't hesitate to ask about our current wine selections and pairing recommendations—helping you create a memorable dining experience is our passion.