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.

Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé Alma Non Dosato Assemblage 2 Bellavista

Soave Classico DOC 2024 Pieropan

Trento Riserva Brut DOC Perlé Bianco 2016 Ferrari

Franciacorta Brut Satèn DOCG Millesimato Vintage Collection 2020 Ca' del Bosco

Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOP 2025 Tenuta Ulisse

Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé Alma Non Dosato Assemblage 2 Bellavista

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Costamolino 2024 Argiolas

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Blanc de Blancs Tenuta Montenisa Marchesi Antinori

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Rosé Millesimato Freccianera 2022 Fratelli Berlucchi

Franciacorta Brut Satèn DOCG Barbalonga

Franciacorta DOCG Dosaggio Zero Barbalonga

Franciacorta Brut Rosé DOCG '61 Berlucchi

Franciacorta DOCG Rosé Demi Sec Montina

Franciacorta DOCG Satén Brut 2021 Mirabella

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Cornonero

Chablis AOC 2023 Domaine de Vauroux

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Lovera

Franciacorta DOCG Satèn Lovera