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.

Vermentino di Gallura Superiore DOCG Monteoro 2025 Sella & Mosca

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Blanc de Blancs Tenuta Montenisa Marchesi Antinori

Trento Brut Blanc de Blancs DOC Maximum Ferrari

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Francesco I Uberti

Trento Brut Millesimato DOC 2021 Altemasi

Vermentino di Gallura Superiore DOCG Bèru Limited Edition 2023 Siddùra

Alta Langa Extra Brut DOCG Cuvée Aurora 2021 Banfi

Trento DOC Brut Letrari

Alta Langa DOCG Brut Rosé Riserva Contessa Rosa 2019 Fontanafredda

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Nature Demetra 2020 Mirabella

Franciacorta Brut Nature DOCG Enrico Gatti

Franciacorta DOCG Satén Brut 2021 Mirabella

Soave Classico DOC Ca' Visco 2024 Coffele

Lugana DOC Brut Metodo Classico Cantariva 2020 Cà Maiol

Chablis AOC 2024 Louis Jadot

Franciacorta Brut Satèn DOCG Millesimato 2021 Castello Bonomi

Alma Assemblage Trilogy by Bellavista, 3 x 0,75 ℓ bottles, High-quality cardboard box

Alta Langa DOCG Rosé Brut 2020 Gancia

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