The right wine for carbonara

Carbonara is one of the most iconic dishes of the rich culinary tradition of Lazio and especially Roman cuisine. It is a tasty and flavourful first course, which, like all the rustic dishes of our cuisine, is based on few and simple ingredients: spaghetti, eggs, pork guanciale, Pecorino Romano cheese, and pepper. When choosing a wine to pair with carbonara, we must first consider the fundamental characteristics of the ingredients.

The pasta has a slightly sweet tendency, the egg expresses a certain creamy richness, the guanciale is very savoury and fatty, the Pecorino Romano has a strong and salty flavour, and the pepper adds a spicy kick. The combination of these characteristics suggests pairing with a white wine of balanced freshness, that is quite aromatic and intense, with a harmonious mid-palate and a good, persistent finish.

Now, having outlined the general profile, let’s try to identify the most suitable wines to serve with carbonara. The easiest and most obvious choice is a local one, with Frascati Superiore, which, thanks to the classic blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia, perfectly expresses the qualities needed. A valid alternative to Frascati can be found in a great Central Italian wine that offers a good pairing with a flavoursome dish like carbonara: Orvieto Classico, one of the oldest and most historically rich white wines of our peninsula. Another white that meets all the requirements to pair perfectly with carbonara pasta is Soave Classico, made with the native Garganega grape, balanced, rich, and savoury. Not far from Verona, we find another wine which, thanks to its harmony and good complexity, can accompany a good carbonara: Custoza Bianco, a blend of Garganega, Bianca Fernanda (Cortese), and Trebbianello (Friulano).

With carbonara, we do not recommend full-bodied red wines, which would be too powerful, persistent, and tannic for a dish with these features. However, if you are looking for an alternative to a still white wine, you might opt for a Classic Method Brut sparkling wine, fresh, savoury, and with harmonious fruit, whose effervescence will perfectly cleanse the palate. A Franciacorta would be perfect. If you love rosé wines, we recommend you try a Chiaretto from Valtènesi, which, with its floral notes, delicate fruit, and fresh, savoury finish, will pair nicely with the dish.

Greco di Tufo DOCG Nassano 2022 Feudi di San Gregorio

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico DOC Diego 2024 Casalfarneto

Lugana DOC Annaberta 2024 Cottini

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico DOC Albiano 2025 Marotti Campi

Alta Langa DOCG Brut Hundred Sixty Six 2018 Fontanafredda

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Costamolino 2025 Argiolas

Lugana DOC Brut Metodo Classico Cantariva 2020 Cà Maiol

Franciacorta DOCG Rosé Riserva Brut Nature Dom Mirabella

Soave Classico DOC 2025 Suavia

Greco di Tufo DOCG Daltavilla 2025 Villa Matilde

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Cuvée 22 Castello Bonomi

Alta Langa DOCG Extra Brut 2021 Prinsi

Soave Classico DOC Brognoligo 2024 Cecilia Beretta

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Òrriu un anno dopo 2023 Quartomoro di Sardegna

Soave DOC Classico Foscarino 2025 Domini Veneti

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore DOC Luzano 2025 Marotti Campi

Lugana DOC San Benedetto 2025 Zenato

Trento DOC Brut 2020 Valentini di Weinfeld

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