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 Extra Brut Lo Sparviere

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Nature Cuvée 1564 2018 Castello Bonomi

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Milledì Millesimato 2022 Ferghettina

Franciacorta DOCG Satén Brut Edea Mirabella

Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume AOC 2022 La Chablisienne

Soave Classico DOC Fittà Peaks & Valley 2025 Villa Della Torre

Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC Il Tralcetto 2025 Zaccagnini

Franciacorta DOCG Brut Santa Lucia

Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Dosaggio Zero Casa delle Colonne Zero 2015 Fratelli Berlucchi

Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut Millesimato Freccianera 2021 Fratelli Berlucchi

Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Unda 2023 Bentu Luna

Alta Langa DOCG Pas Dosè Riserva Special Cuvée 2015 Contratto

Isola dei Nuraghi IGT Vermentino Stellato 2024 Pala

Vermentino di Gallura DOCG Petrizza 2025 Masone Mannu

Pouilly-Fumé AOC Tradition 2025 Domaine Serge Dagueneau & Filles

Alta Langa DOCG Brut 2020 Duchessa Lia

Greco di Tufo DOCG Alèxandros 2024 Colli di Lapio

Vermentino di Gallura DOCG Piras 2025 Cantina Gallura

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