Pizza and Beverage Pairing 101: The Margherita
We offer a wide range of pizzas, some have red sauce while some are white pies; some have no toppings while others have quite a few. So we thought we would start a series to help you pair your pizza perfectly with your desired beverage (alcoholic and non) and we're kicking off the series with the Margherita pizza!
For the Wine Drinkers
Our most classic pizza (along with all of its deviations: the Gluten Free, the Vegan, and the Double Cheese) go well with a variety of beverages, which is perfect since it is the most prevalent flavor of pizza in Naples and all over the US. For wine selection, we recommend another classic Italian wine: a Chianti. The simplicity of this wine truly complements the flavor of the pizza and the combo will take you right back to Italy, where both were made.
What's interesting is that depending on how you build on the Margherita also alters the wine choice, but it still remains red. If you were to add more veggies on top, you'd pair that pizza with a lighter, chillable red wine (this is what we'd recommend for our Eggplant Parmigiana pizza). If you were to top your Margherita with meat, the red you'd paid it with would be very bold and almost spicy!
For the Beer and Cocktail Crowd
If wine isn't your thing, you can also pair your Margherita pizza with a lighter beer, especially a pilsner. You can also really appreciate your pizza's flavor profile by pairing it with another Italian classic: the Aperol Spritz.
Non-Alcoholic Pairings
For those who do not drink alcohol, you can pair your Margherita pizza with a basil lemonade. The lemon cuts the creaminess of the cheese (so maybe a better option for the Double Cheese Margherita) and the basil in both the lemonade and the pizza will really highlight this pair.
Carbonated beverages are said to go with any pizza type, but specifically citrusy flavors are best with the Margherita. So we recommend something like a San Pellegrino Limonata or just sparkling mineral water with a wedge of lemon.
Some people even argue that kombucha is a great pairing, but we admittedly have not tried this one out! We also haven't tried the cranberry juice pairing others swear by, so you'll have to let us know if you try it!
Talia di Napoli
