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.

Chablis AOC 1er Cru Montmains 2023 Domaine de Chaude Écuelle

Chablis AOC 1er Cru Les Séchets 2023 Patrick Piuze

Alta Langa DOCG Dosaggio Zero Numero Primo 2020 Castello di Perno

Franciacorta DOCG Rosé Brut Millesimato 2020 Monzio Compagnoni

Petit Chablis AOC 2023 Simonnet-Febvre

Chablis AOC Premier Cru Mont de Milieu 2023 Ropiteau Frères

Chablis AOC Premier Cru Montmains 2023 Ropiteau Frères

Chablis AOC Premier Cru Vaillons 2023 Ropiteau Frères

Chablis AOC Premier Cru Vaucoupin 2023 Ropiteau Frères

Chablis AOC Premier Cru Les Forêts 2023 Patrick Piuze

Chablis AOC Grand Cru Valmur 2023 Labouré-Roi

Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut Millesimato Sylvó 2015 Lo Sparviere

Chablis AOC 2024 Louis Moreau

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Olieddu 2022 Mario Bagella

Chablis AOC 2023 Joseph Drouhin

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC Vallenga 2024 Tenuta Mattei

Fiano di Avellino DOCG Arianiello 2022 Feudi di San Gregorio

Fiano di Avellino DOP Riserva Neviera di Sopra 2020 Rocca del Principe