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.

Soave Classico DOC Levarie 2025 Masi

Trento DOC Brut Cuvée 601 Concilio

Trento DOC Dosaggio Zero Cuvée 601 Concilio

Soave DOC Broia 2023 Roccolo Grassi

Franciacorta DOCG Satèn Lovera

Fiano di Avellino DOCG Radici 2024 Mastroberardino

Trento DOC Brut Cuvée 28 Rotari

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Marchese di Lamosa

Soave DOC 2024 Ilatium Morini

Lugana DOC Superiore Molin 2023 Cà Maiol

Soave Classico DOP Gran Guardia 2024 Montresor

Fiano di Avellino DOCG 2024 Terredora

Pouilly-Fumé AOC Le Champ des Vignes 2024 Marquis de Goulaine

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC 2025 Piero Mancini

Fiano di Avellino DOCG Brutto Anatroccolo 2025 Tenuta Madre

Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOP 2025 Ciavolich

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Cala Reale 2025 Sella & Mosca

Lugana DOC Le Creete 2025 Ottella

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