Wine Pairings with Cured meats

Italian cured meats offer a wide range of flavours and textures, from the most delicate to the most intense and spicy. Pairing them with the right wine should balance the savouriness and the fat without overwhelming the taste. Let's discover the best wines to pair with cured meats.

Characteristics of Cured Meats and General Pairings

The choice of wine depends on several factors:

Type of cured meat: delicate cured meats such as prosciutto crudo call for light wines, while aged, spiced ones go with more structured wines.
Richness and savouriness: wines with good acidity and bubbles help to cut through the richness on the palate.
Spiciness: smoked or spicy cured meats call for softer or more aromatic wines.

Best Food and Wine Pairings for Cured Meats

Recommended Red Wines

Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC – Perfect alongside rich cured meats such as mortadella and coppa, thanks to its freshness.
Barbera d'Asti DOCG – Excellent with cured meats such as salami and speck, for its balanced acidity.
Chianti Classico DOCG – Ideal for Tuscan prosciutto and finocchiona, thanks to its structure and savouriness.

Recommended Sparkling Wines

Franciacorta Brut – Perfect for prosciutto crudo and delicate cured meats.
Prosecco Superiore DOCG – Excellent with mortadella and light cured meats.

Recommended White Wines

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC – An excellent choice for spiced and smoked cured meats.
Alsace Riesling – Ideal for speck and cured meats with herbs.

Mistakes to Avoid in Pairing

Avoid very tannic red wines (e.g. Barolo, Amarone) because they can accentuate the savouriness of the cured meat. Watch out for overly sweet wines, which could clash with the savouriness and the spice. Avoid wines that are too aromatic with delicate cured meats, so as not to mask their flavour.

Specific Pairings for Certain Famous Cured Meats

Prosciutto crudo → Franciacorta Brut, Lambrusco di Sorbara Aged salami → Barbera d'Asti, Chianti Classico Smoked speck → Alsace Riesling, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Mortadella → Prosecco Superiore, Lambrusco di Sorbara

Cured meats: My personal top three

1
Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023 - Comtes de Saint Martin
- Type: Red Wine
- Region: Burgundy, Côte d'Or, France
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2
La Rivoltosa Barbera Oltrepò Pavese DOC 2023 - La Travaglina
- Type: Red Wine
- Region: Italy, Lombardy, Oltrepò Pavese
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3
Morgon “La Chanaise” 2022 - Domaine Dominique Piron
- Type: Red Wine
- Region: Beaujolais, France, Morgon
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