What Pairs with Your Favorite Pizza? Wine!

It seems that I’ve been on a pizza binge lately. I’ve spent weeks resisting the temptation to indulge in one of my favorite foods for the sheer reason that it’s almost summer and the beach beckons. At this point my palate has begun to crave loads of cheese, spice, vegetables and sauce on crispy, wood-fired dough. Although I desperately want to deny these powerful desires, it’s impossible!

And now the truth: three times this week I’ve savored three varieties of pizzas paired with three mouthwatering, flavorful wines sent to me as samples. These delicious wine finds would be incredibly easy for you, too, to sip and savor with your favorite pizza – whether it’s frozen, delivered from your favorite neighborhood haunt or homemade like Nonna makes. During the week I kept thinking that no one needs to stroll along the beach in a swimsuit! That’s what cover-ups are made for! Bring on the pizza and wine!

Then there were these… Cheers!

Peter Zemmer Pinot Grigio Riserva GIATL 2016 ($38) is chock full of flavor and character. From Alto Adige DOC in northern Italy, abundant sunshine, fresh Alpine air and stony, sandy and chalky soils are the qualities that make this wine shine. On the nose, I found lemon zest, yellow flowers, pear, tropical fruit, green apple and toast. The broad palate was alive with bright acidity, juicy citrus, lemon, vanilla and spice notes, all of which led to a rich, fruit filled finish. You love a savory vegetable pizza? This wine is a delectable pairing.

A taste of the Dobbes Family Estate Rose of Pinot Noir 2017 ($24) from the Quailhurst Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA will make any pizza taste that much better. Of course, wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon never disappoint and this choice is yet another example. Tangy, with a burst of minerality, aromas of elegant red florals, strawberries and raspberries were fresh and bright entries to the flavors that followed. Plentiful notes of juicy berries, orange zest, nectarines and herbs were bolstered by vibrant acidity and a snappy finish. Smooth and balanced, pair this rose with any pizza that includes pork, goat cheese or savory vegetables.

Each time I taste wine from Domaine Bousquet, I’m reminded why I need to travel to Argentina… to visit their vineyards and taste the wines in the land where deliciousness happens. A luscious blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah and 5% Merlot, the Domaine Bousquet Ameri 2015 ($36) is from estate vineyards in Tupungato, Alto Gualtillary located by the foothills of the Andes Mountains at around 4000 feet above sea level. The wine burst with intense aromas of fresh red fruit, blueberries, blackberries, lavender and vanilla. On the palate, tastes of juicy red fruit, hints of spice, pepper and raisins were framed with lively acidity and elegant tannic structure. A sip of this wine with a bite of deep-dish pizza of spinach, mushroom and beef with tomato sauce? Nirvana.

Cheers! ~ Cindy