Best Wine With Lasagna: Our 16 Favorite Wine Pairings!

best wine with lasagna

Quick Answer: Chianti or Italian red wines for a meat or red sauce lasagna. Pinot Grigio for a white sauce lasagna. Sparkling wine, like Prosecco, for a vegetarian lasagna.

If you’re looking for the best wines to pair with lasagna, look no further! This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the different types of wines that will pair well with this popular Italian dish.

There are many different types of lasagna, and each one has its own unique flavor profile. Some people like to keep things simple and pair their lasagna with a basic red wine. Others like to get more creative, pairing it with white wines, rosés, or even sparkling wines.

In this post, we will explore all the different wine pairing options for lasagna. Whether you’re looking for a red wine, white wine, or sparkling wine we’ve got you covered.

So what are you waiting for? Read on to learn more!

Table of Contents

What is Lasagna? And How Do You Pair Wine With It?

lasagna meal pinot noir

Lasagna al Forno, originally from Emilia Romagna, is a favorite type of Italian pasta dish that typically consists of layers of flat sheets of pasta, cheese, and meat or vegetables along with béchamel sauce. This dish can be made with different types of noodles, including traditional Italian lasagna noodles or even gluten-free options.

The sauce for lasagna is usually either a red tomato sauce or a white sauce. Red sauce lasagna is typically made with a tomato sauce, while white sauce lasagna is usually made with cream-based or cheese-based sauce.

Wines with a high acidity level will pair well since they can cut through the many different sauces and layers.

No matter what type of lasagna you’re making, there’s a wine out there that will pair perfectly with it!

What Are The Best Red Wine Pairings With Lasagna?

red wines

As we mentioned before, there are many different types of lasagna. And depending on the type of lasagna you’re making, you’ll want to choose a different type of wine. 

If you’re having a red sauce or meat lasagna, I would suggest a red wine. And as you can see below, most of our red wines recommendations are Italian wine. 

1) Chianti

If you’re making a classic red tomato sauce lasagna, we recommend pairing it with red wines like a Chianti or Sangiovese red wine. These wines have bold flavors that can stand up to the heartiness of the dish.

And going over the rules of pairing wine, the #1 rule is to respect the region. So if you’re making an Italian dish you should pair it with Italian wines.

2) Barbera

Another great option for pairing with red tomato sauce lasagna is Barbera. This red wine is also from Italy and it has similar bold flavors to Chianti.

But what makes Barbera a great choice is that it’s a little lighter-bodied, has fewer tannins, and is more acidic than Chianti. It will help cut through the acidic flavors of the lasagna while bringing out the delicious flavors.

3) Montepulciano

Montepulciano has similar flavors to these other wines, but it’s a little fruitier and smoother. Also, it’s usually priced pretty well. Montepulciano is well known as one of the  great wines to pair with pizza, so to pair it with a lasagna dish makes sense.

4) Cabernet Sauvignon

If you’re looking for bolder wines to pair with your lasagna, we recommend a Cabernet Sauvignon.

This full-bodied red wine has intense flavors of dark fruits and spices that will complement the hearty flavors of this dish. And for a meat sauce lasagna, the tannins will help cut through the protein. But too many tannins may overwhelm the flavors of the lasagna. 

cabernet sauvignon vs merlot comparison

5) Primitivo

Primitivo is an Italian Zinfandel. It’s a wonderful choice for lasagnas with more spices and herbs.

But what makes Primitivo a great choice is that it’s a little bit more fruity and easy to drink, but it also has the kick that will match the spicy tomato sauce lasagna flavors.

6) Merlot

If you want a fruitier, softer red wine to pair with your lasagna, Merlot is a great option. This wine has flavors of blackberry and plum, which will go well with the heartiness of the dish.

It’s important to note that you don’t want to choose a Merlot that’s too tannic. Otherwise, it may overwhelm the flavors of the different types of lasagna.

So when you’re choosing a Merlot, look for one that’s smooth and fruit-forward.

7) Barbaresco

Barbaresco is a great choice for a meat lasagna dish with more complex flavor profiles. It’s made by the Nebbiolo grape, which is known for making Barolos and being one of the most tannic wines.

But don’t let that scare you away! Barbaresco does not have as much tannin as Barolos. And it has high acidity and delicate fruit flavors that will stand up to the heartiest of tomato sauce lasagnas.

8) Amarone

A unique Italian red wine made using dried grapes (raisins). It is a fruit-forward and smooth red wine that will bring out the sweetness of the lasagna.

It does, in fact, go through some aging in oak and could have tobacco undertones. But it’s a good choice for those that like the sweet tomato sauce flavors of a meat lasagna.

9) Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello vs Barolo

Brunello di Montalcino is a Tuscan wine made from the Sangiovese grape. It’s one of the best wines in Italy, which makes it a great choice for tomato sauce lasagna.

It has good acidity and flavors of dark fruits, spices, and herbs. The complexity of the red wine will match well with all the flavors of meat lasagna.

This complex wine will need some time to open up, so we recommend decanting it for at least an hour before serving. Though we have it near the bottom of our list because the cost of the wine is relatively expensive ($40-$150 per bottle).

What Are The Best White and Rosé Wine Pairings With Lasagna?

vegetable lasagna

If you’re making a white sauce lasagna, I would suggest a white wine. And below you will have a few different wine pairing options that will pair well with this type of lasagna.

Or, if you’re looking for something a little bit different, you can also pair a white sauce lasagna with a Rosé. 

1) Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is a light-bodied white wine with delicate flavors of citrus and stone fruits. It’s a great choice for lasagna because it won’t overpower the dish.

And the acidity in this white wine will help cut through the richness of the cheese, bechamel sauce, and cream in the lasagna.

2) Chablis

Chablis is a light-bodied white wine from the Burgundy region of France. It’s made with the Chardonnay grape and has delicate flavors of citrus and minerals.

Chablis will bring out the flavors of the parmesan cheese, bechamel sauce, and herbs. But at the same time the acidity in a Chablis will help balance the flavors of the lasagna.

3) Chardonnay

oaked chardonnay vs unoaked chardonnay is chardonnay sweet

Chardonnay is a fuller-bodied white wine with rich flavors of tropical fruits, butter, and oak. It’s a great choice for lasagna because it can stand up to the richness of the dish.

And the buttery flavors will pair well with the cheese in the lasagna. Just make sure to get a Chardonnay that’s not too oaky. Some people find that oaky Chardonnays can taste like pineapple and vanilla, which can be a bit overwhelming.

4) Sauvignon Blanc

Similar to the Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc is a light-bodied white wine with delicate flavors of citrus and herbs. It is crisp and refreshing with lots of acidity to help cut through the richness of the cheese and cream in the lasagna.

5) Rosé

Rosé is a great choice for lasagna because it can go with both the red and white sauce lasagnas. It has delicate fruit flavors and a refreshing acidity.

And the light body of Rosé won’t overpower the flavors of the lasagna. Plus, it’s a fun wine to pair with food because it’s not as common. So if you like Rosé give it a shot the next you want to pair wine with lasagna.

What Are The Best Sparkling Wine Pairings With Lasagna?

vegetable lasagna pesto lasagna

Finally, if you’re making a vegetarian lasagna (vegetable lasagna) or one that is lighter in flavor, you might want to try pairing it with a sparkling wine. A dry Prosecco or Brut Champagne will complement the flavors of the dish without overpowering them.

1) Prosecco

Prosecco is a dry Italian sparkling wine with delicate flavors of citrus and stone fruits. It’s a great choice for lasagna because the acidity and bubbles will help cut through the richness of the lasagna.

sparkling wine champagne vs prosecco

2) Champagne

Champagne is the famous dry French sparkling wine that is normally served for celebrations. It has delicate flavors of citrus, white flowers, and notes of nuttiness. It’s a great choice for lasagna because the acidity will help balance the flavors of the dish. And the bubbles will help refresh your palate between bites.

So, if you’re having lasagna for a special occasion (no matter what kind of sauce it’s made with or whether it’s vegetarian), Champagne is the ideal match!

Summary

Both red and white wines can be good choices for lasagna. But it really depends on the type of lasagna you’re making. 

If you’re making a red sauce lasagna, then a red wine will probably be your best bet. 

But if you’re making a white sauce or vegetarian lasagna, then a white or sparkling wine might be a better choice. 

And if you want to try something different, you can always go with a rosé.

No matter what type of lasagna you’re making, there’s a wine out there that will pair perfectly with it! So get cooking and then pop open a bottle of your favorite wine. 

Cheers!

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