Which Wine to Pair with Lasagna?
Lasagna, the iconic Italian dish, comes in many variations and pairs well with different types of wines depending on its ingredients and flavors. Whether you're making classic bolognese lasagna, a vegetable version, seafood, or creamy white lasagna, choosing the right wine can make a big difference. Here are some tips for pairing wine with lasagna to elevate your meal.
Bolognese Lasagna: Light to Medium-Bodied Red
Classic bolognese lasagna, made with ground beef, tomato sauce, and béchamel, has a robust character. The acidity of the tomato sauce needs a red wine with enough freshness and soft tannins to create a balance.
To pair the classic bolognese lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Chianti: This Italian wine from Tuscany has notes of red fruit, spices, and a pleasant acidity that perfectly complements the richness of bolognese lasagna. We recommend the Chianti Classico Riserva from Rocca delle Macie.
Barbera d'Asti: Another Italian wine with a slightly acidic profile that pairs well with tomato and meat dishes.
Beaujolais (Gamay): This French wine is light and fruity, with low tannins, which allows it to enhance the taste of lasagna without overpowering it.
Vegetarian Lasagna: White or Light Red
Vegetarian lasagna, often made with grilled vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, ricotta, and tomato sauce, benefits from lighter wines. Fresh and slightly acidic wines are excellent for not overwhelming the delicate vegetable flavors.
To pair the vegetarian lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Unoaked Chardonnay: A Chardonnay without oak aging, with fresh fruit notes, pairs well with vegetables and tomato sauce.
Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc): This Loire Valley wine has herbal and mineral notes that pair beautifully with vegetables.
Pinot Noir: A fresh, low-tannin Pinot Noir from Burgundy is ideal if you prefer a light red wine with your vegetarian lasagna.
Salmon and Spinach Lasagna: Dry White
Salmon and spinach lasagna, often enriched with béchamel, is a delicate alternative to meat-based lasagna. Salmon, being a fatty fish, pairs well with dry, lively white wines that bring freshness and cut through the richness.
To pair the salmon and spinach lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Pouilly-Fumé: This Loire Valley wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, has smoky notes that go perfectly with salmon and spinach.
Dry Riesling: Alsace Riesling, with its floral notes and liveliness, enhances the salmon's flavor without overwhelming the palate.
White Lasagna (No Tomato): Rich White or Soft Red
White lasagna, often made with white meat (chicken, turkey) and béchamel without tomato sauce, has a creamier, softer flavor profile. These lasagnas pair well with a lightly oaked white or a gentle red that won’t overpower the subtle flavors.
To pair the white lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc: This wine has a balanced profile with floral and citrus notes, complementing the creaminess of béchamel.
Merlot: For a red option, Merlot’s soft tannins and fruity notes pair well with the smoothness of white lasagna. Try the one from Bodega del Desierto.
Seafood Lasagna: Mineral and Crisp White
Seafood lasagna, often made with crab, shrimp, or scallops, is a refined, ocean-flavored dish that pairs particularly well with mineral, dry white wines. Wines with citrus aromas and marked freshness elevate the seafood flavors.
To pair seafood lasagna with wine, we recommend the Albariño grape (Rias Baixas). This Spanish wine offers fresh fruit and citrus aromas that perfectly balance the oceanic flavors of seafood lasagna.
Bolognese Lasagna: Light to Medium-Bodied Red
Classic bolognese lasagna, made with ground beef, tomato sauce, and béchamel, has a robust character. The acidity of the tomato sauce needs a red wine with enough freshness and soft tannins to create a balance.
To pair the classic bolognese lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Chianti: This Italian wine from Tuscany has notes of red fruit, spices, and a pleasant acidity that perfectly complements the richness of bolognese lasagna. We recommend the Chianti Classico Riserva from Rocca delle Macie.
Barbera d'Asti: Another Italian wine with a slightly acidic profile that pairs well with tomato and meat dishes.
Beaujolais (Gamay): This French wine is light and fruity, with low tannins, which allows it to enhance the taste of lasagna without overpowering it.
Vegetarian Lasagna: White or Light Red
Vegetarian lasagna, often made with grilled vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, ricotta, and tomato sauce, benefits from lighter wines. Fresh and slightly acidic wines are excellent for not overwhelming the delicate vegetable flavors.
To pair the vegetarian lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Unoaked Chardonnay: A Chardonnay without oak aging, with fresh fruit notes, pairs well with vegetables and tomato sauce.
Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc): This Loire Valley wine has herbal and mineral notes that pair beautifully with vegetables.
Pinot Noir: A fresh, low-tannin Pinot Noir from Burgundy is ideal if you prefer a light red wine with your vegetarian lasagna.
Salmon and Spinach Lasagna: Dry White
Salmon and spinach lasagna, often enriched with béchamel, is a delicate alternative to meat-based lasagna. Salmon, being a fatty fish, pairs well with dry, lively white wines that bring freshness and cut through the richness.
To pair the salmon and spinach lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Pouilly-Fumé: This Loire Valley wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, has smoky notes that go perfectly with salmon and spinach.
Dry Riesling: Alsace Riesling, with its floral notes and liveliness, enhances the salmon's flavor without overwhelming the palate.
White Lasagna (No Tomato): Rich White or Soft Red
White lasagna, often made with white meat (chicken, turkey) and béchamel without tomato sauce, has a creamier, softer flavor profile. These lasagnas pair well with a lightly oaked white or a gentle red that won’t overpower the subtle flavors.
To pair the white lasagna with wine, we recommend:
Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc: This wine has a balanced profile with floral and citrus notes, complementing the creaminess of béchamel.
Merlot: For a red option, Merlot’s soft tannins and fruity notes pair well with the smoothness of white lasagna. Try the one from Bodega del Desierto.
Seafood Lasagna: Mineral and Crisp White
Seafood lasagna, often made with crab, shrimp, or scallops, is a refined, ocean-flavored dish that pairs particularly well with mineral, dry white wines. Wines with citrus aromas and marked freshness elevate the seafood flavors.
To pair seafood lasagna with wine, we recommend the Albariño grape (Rias Baixas). This Spanish wine offers fresh fruit and citrus aromas that perfectly balance the oceanic flavors of seafood lasagna.
