I don't really have much experience with pizza (I don't really like it), but I stand by my belief that it's wine's best friend. And why, you ask? Well, because it has all the essential ingredients that pair with/enhance pretty much any wine! Think about it: cheese (mozzarella, feta, parmesan, asiago, etc), sauces (creamy sauces, rich tomato, barbecue sauce, etc), meats (sausage, chicken, pepperoni, etc), and of course veggies (probably the part I like most about pizza). The great thing about pizza is that you can really have any theme, and of course there are a range of wines that pair with each style.
For example: I met with some friends and we split in 2 teams to "compete" for the Best Pizza Award (which is really nonexistent and didn't have a prize). My team made a veggie/pesto pizza: pesto spread, a little mozzarella, feta, fresh basil, spinach, mushrooms, olives, pimientos, green olives. The opponent made a creamy/meaty pizza: garlic cream sauce, bacon, ham, garlic sausage, lots of mozzarella/cheddar, topped w/ sliced tomato.
The winners? MY TEAM!!! Our pizza had a nice balance of salty flavors (pesto, olives, etc) and herby fresh veggies. Pizza #2 was too creamy (from the cream sauce plus cheese) and really needed more tomatoes/acid to cut that.
But, that's not to say some delicious Chardonnay and Merlot didn't help the creamy/meaty combo. We actually enjoyed both of the (very different) pizzas with the 2007 La Crema Chardonnay and the 2006 SKN Merlot. The Chardonnay's full body and creamy texture worked with the cheese on both pizzas, and the nice crisp finish cut the overly-creaminess of pizza #2, and the salty herbaceousness of the victorious pizza #1. The Merlot had similar, yet different effects. The cheese on both pizzas helped mellow out the tart cherry flavors, and the tannins worked really well with the salt on both pizzas. This Merlot was actually pretty boring, but very drinkable and it flowed nicely with all the different flavors of both pizzas.
So, go pizza/wine! What are your favorite pizza styles and wine pairings?
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