Wine Pairings with First courses

Go straight to: Baked pasta - Pasta with pesto - Pasta with meat sauce - Pasta with fresh tomato sauce - Cold pasta salad - Filled pasta - Meat-based first courses - Vegetable first courses - Seafood first courses - Mushroom risotto

Italian first courses, such as pasta, risottos and soups, offer a great variety of flavours and textures. The right wine pairing has to bring out the character of the dish without overpowering it. Let us look at the best wines to pair with the different types of first course.

Characteristics of First Courses and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:
  • Type of dressing: meat, fish, vegetable or cheese sauces affect the pairing.
  • Structure of the dish: richer, creamier dishes need wines with more body and acidity.
  • Intensity of flavours: delicate first courses call for fresh, light wines, while tastier ones go better with structured wines.

Best Wine and Food Pairings for First Courses

Recommended White Wines

  • Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC – Perfect for seafood risottos and fish first courses.
  • Fiano di Avellino DOCG – Excellent for creamy pasta dishes with cheese or mushrooms.
  • Gavi DOCG – Ideal for vegetable first courses with delicate dressings.

Recommended Red Wines

  • Chianti Classico DOCG – Perfect for pasta with ragù and first courses with meat.
  • Barbera d'Asti DOCG – Excellent for first courses with rich, tasty sauces.
  • Pinot Noir Alto Adige DOC – Ideal for light pasta dishes with mushrooms or truffle.

Recommended Rosé Wines

  • Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC – An excellent choice for first courses with tomato and fish.
  • Provence Rosé – Ideal for vegetable risottos or cold summer pasta.

Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing

Avoid wines that are too tannic with light first courses, as they could prove excessively overpowering. Watch out for overly aromatic wines (e.g. Gewürztraminer) which might overpower delicate dishes. Avoid wines that are too dry with very creamy first courses, which need a wine with a certain softness.

Specific Pairings for Some Famous Dishes

Pasta with ragù → Chianti Classico, Barbera d'Asti Seafood risotto → Verdicchio, Gavi Pulse and grain soup → Pinot Noir, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Pasta with pesto → Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc

First courses: My personal podium

  • 1
    Chardonnay 'Lafoa' 2022 - Colterenzio

    Chardonnay 'Lafoa' 2022 - Colterenzio

    • Type: Vino Bianco
    • Region: Cornaiano e Appiano, Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige
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  • 2
    “Dal Nero” Pas Dosé Non-vintage - Azienda Agricola Strologo Silvano

    “Dal Nero” Pas Dosé Non-vintage - Azienda Agricola Strologo Silvano

    • Type: Sparkling wine or Champagne
    • Region: Italy, Marche, Vallesina
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  • 3
    Mâcon-Verzé “Le chemin blanc” 2022 - Nicolas Maillet

    Mâcon-Verzé “Le chemin blanc” 2022 - Nicolas Maillet

    • Type: Vino Bianco
    • Region: Burgundy, France, Mâconnais
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First courses: wines and territories

Baked pasta:
Pasta with pesto:
Pasta with meat sauce:
Pasta with fresh tomato sauce:
Cold pasta salad:
Filled pasta:
Meat-based first courses: Pasta with ragù - First courses with meat sauces
Vegetable first courses:
Seafood first courses: Pasta with seafood and shellfish - Seafood risottos
Mushroom risotto:

All those I have tried