Crisp white wines with lots of acidity and versatility, like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Fiano, Unoaked Chardonnay, Prosecco and Rosé, pair best with Vegetarian Pizza. For red wine, Cabernet Franc has plenty of tart green notes that make it exceptional, with Vegetarian Pizza featuring green bell peppers or green olives.
Best Wine with Vegetarian Pizza
Sauvignon Blanc & Vegetarian Pizza Pairing
There is no standard Vegetarian Pizza, which makes this pizza a beautiful thing. You can expect a rainbow of colours, such as white or red onions, broccoli, green bell peppers, Jalapeño peppers, banana peppers, roasted red peppers, green olives, black olives, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes. Thus, you need a versatile white wine full of acidity to cut through the carbohydrates and cheese on your pizza.
Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp white wine full of tart citrus flavours and herbaceous notes that complement any green flavours on your pizza. The acidity of Sauvignon Blanc electrifies the vegetable flavours buried under the cheese, while the grassy green notes of the wine add an extra flair to the whole ordeal.
Cabernet Franc & Vegetarian Pizza Pairing
With Vegetarian Pizza, it’s typically best to avoid Red Wines as the deeper reds will overpower the subtle vegetable flavours. Thus, if you crave red wine, you’ll want to seek something medium-bodied at most, but lighter reds (like Beaujolais) are preferable.
A medium-bodied Cabernet Franc won’t work with every type of vegetarian pizza, but it is outstanding with veggie pizzas with green olives and green bell peppers. Cabernet Franc flavours can vary on how they are produced but are often notable for tart green flavours that will complement the olives and peppers on your slice of ‘za.
Cabernet Franc from cooler climates, such as Ontario, Canada or the Loire Valley in France, tend to be more dominant in these tart green notes. Meanwhile, a California or a Chilean Cabernet Franc, where it is warmer, has a sweeter pepper quality that will complement roasted red peppers on your pizza. For both styles, you can also expect notes of raspberry jam, strawberry, wet gravel, cherry, oregano, chocolate and smoky tomato.
Cabernet Franc, while full of tannin, has plenty of acidity, ensuring it mingles well with the tomato sauce spread across your pizza. The acidity in tomatoes tends to make the tannin in wine taste like tin, however, the acidity in Cabernet Franc should even the keel to ensure this does not occur.
While I give this pairing four stars, it’s an easy five stars if your pizza has green olives or green peppers, plus meatier veggies, such as, eggplant, roasted red peppers or broccoli. If your Vegetarian Pizza consists of lighter vegetables like cauliflower or zucchini, Cabernet Franc will overwhelm them.
Rosé and Vegetarian Pizza Pairing
Rosé is a dry and acidic wine that is incredibly versatile with food. On the palate, expect notes of strawberry, cranberry, raspberry and lime, making Rosé taste refreshing against all the carbs in your crust or the fat and protein of your cheese. These elements tend to overtake your taste buds, and after a few bites, all the vegetable notes will get drowned out due to your dulled senses, not with Rosé, as it swooshes in and cleans out your taste buds with its tingly acidity.
On top of its cleansing power, the acidity of Rosé acts as a highlighter as the wine touches every vegetable. Thus, the wine zips around and electrifies all the subtle flavours of the broccoli, peppers, onions, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes or herbs scattered across your slice.
Unoaked Chardonnay & Vegetarian Pizza Pairing
Unoaked Chardonnay has steely notes of green apple, melon, tropical fruit and citrus with a vibrant acidity that will flush out all the delicate vegetable flavours strewn about your vegetarian pizza. In between bites, the acidity will keep your mouth refreshed, ensuring each bite is as wonderful as the last.
Unoaked Chardonnay is the way to go if you’re enjoying your pizza on a patio. It’s a fun-loving and food-friendly white wine that brings on the good times.
Fiano di Avellino & Grilled Vegetarian Pizza Pairing
Fiano is a white wine from Southern Italy with fresh acidity and an alluring minerality that jives perfectly with any earthy vegetables on your pizza slice. With Fiano, you can also expect notes of smoke, citrus, herb, nectarine, toasted almond and honey, all wrapped up in a blanket of balanced acidity.
Since pizza is such a casual food, it’s a great time to pair it up with a wine you’re unfamiliar with, like Fiano di Avellino. Bottle prices can vary. However, a $20 bottle will be good enough for vegetarian pizza. If your pizza features lots of grilled veggies, Fiano’s smoky allure makes this wine a winner.