All About Lasagna
Lasagna is an Italian dish made of thin layers of pasta interspersed with different fillings. These can be a classic ragu made of tomato sauce and ground meat or a mouth-watering layer of cheese, usually parmesan or ricotta. Lasagna has become the go-to dish for many casual celebrations.
And, aside from being comfort food, it is also an easy dish to prepare. It can be prepared with an almost unlimited range of fillings, making it so easy to ring the changes. You can have traditional meat lasagna, a chicken lasagna, seafood, or vegetarian style. And, by adding a blend of flavorful herbs like basil, oregano, and garlic, this simple dish can become soul food.
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(4.6 / 5) What Wines Pair Well with Lasagna?
A guaranteed way to up-level this classic Italian dish is to find the bestLasagna wine match to rich flavors of this food. Choosing the wine that will pair best with your lasagna will depend on the type of lasagna you are serving. Both red and white wines are suitable, but you have to make sure that the flavor of the wine does not overwhelm the dish and your palate. Typically, the wines that pair well with lasagna are those made from Verdicchio, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, and Barbera grapes. These wines are dry and have fruity notes that bring out the flavors of lasagna.
Best White Wines With Lasagna
Cà dei Frati I Frati Lugana
- Winery — Cà Dei Frati
- Country/Region — Italy, Lombardia, Lugana
- Type — Northern Italy White
- Aroma — Lemon, Apple, Pineapple, Honey, Grapefruit
- Grapes — Verdicchio
- Taste — Apricot, Fruity, Passion Fruit And Mandarin, Vanilla
- Alcohol Content — 13%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Lasagna, Broiled Lobster, Light Citrusy Dishes, Squid Ink Pasta, Almost Any Seafood
Beyond Refreshing
Verdicchio complements the tomatoes in an all-meat lasagna perfectly, thanks to its lemony zestiness. I Frati Lugana by Cà Dei Frati is a light-bodied, crisp white wine with an ideal acidity level, making it the best white wine with lasagna. This wine was designed to be consumed as vintage and the years of bottling will only elevate the wine and bring out its best elements.
I Frati Lugana will highlight the ground meat flavors in the layers of lasagna while teasing your olfactory senses with aromas of citrus, white spring flower, and wild herbs. The wine has a zesty palate of white grapefruit, fennel, yellow peach, dill, and passion fruit. You may also detect hints of vanilla.
Crown Jewel
It was in 1939 that winegrower Felice Dal Cero moved to Lugana in the Sermion district. He had discovered the area’s potential for cultivating vines. The Cà Dei Frati winery was eventually established in 1969 with the help of his son, Pietro. By their own admission, the I Frati Lugana has become the jewel in the crown of their company and continues to be one of their most celebrated wines.
Vie di Romans Chardonnay
- Winery — Vie Di Romans
- Country/Region — Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Isonzo
- Type — Italian Chardonnay
- Aroma — Honey, Peach, Melon, Vanilla
- Grapes — Chardonnay
- Taste — Herbal Notes, Citrus, Smoke, Peach, Gooseberry
- Alcohol Content — 14.4%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Vegetable Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan, Cured Meat, Lean Fish
Vegetable Lasagna
Made in the heart of Friuli’s Isonzo, the Vie di Romans is made of 100% Chardonnay. When it comes to vegetarian lasagna, the filling is often a significant factor for determining whether a Chardonnay will be a good match. But, the Vie di Romans pairs beautifully with the typical vegetable lasagna fillings such as cream, ricotta, mushrooms, and tomato sauce.
Tasting Notes
This wine is delicate, light, and dry, making it a perfect match for vegetarian lasagna, and it has an elegant nose of honeysuckle, acacia blossom, and summer flowers. This is a medium-bodied, fragrant wine with rich fruitiness, accompanied by hints of vanilla, fresh almonds, and buttery notes. It has a long, oaky finish with a light spicy aftertaste that perfectly complements the lasagna.
Best Red Wines With Lasagna
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico
- Winery — Isole e Olena
- Country/Region — Italy, Toscana, Chianti, Chianti Classico
- Type — Italian Chianti
- Aroma — Red Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Leather, Oregano, Spice, Tobacco
- Grapes — 82% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 3% Syrah/Shiraz
- Taste — Red Cherry, Vanilla, Raspberry, Licorice
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Lasagna, Red Pasta, Salami Sandwich, Chicken Curry, Meatballs
Match Made In Heaven
Isole e Olena, owned by fourth-generation winemaker Paolo De Marchi, is undoubtedly among Italy’s most famous wineries. Their Chianti Classico is a perfect blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, and Canaiolo, showcasing Paolo’s winemaking skills. It has an earthy, herbal taste with the fruity tartness of luscious black and red cherries. These flavors pair wonderfully with a serving of lasagna. It has balanced acidity and tannins that can be refreshing, cleansing the palate after every bite of the lasagna.
Lasagna is a dish that can easily overwhelm your taste buds because of the rich and creamy cheese layers. Pair it with a red wine like Isole e Olena’s Chianti Classico, and it brings some elegance to your palate. The wine gives off smokey, earthy, and herbal notes that perfectly complement the garlic, bell peppers, and other herbs typically used in lasagna.
Conte di Campiano Primitivo di Manduria
- Winery — Conte di Campiano
- Country/Region — Italy, Puglia, Primitivo di Manduria
- Type — Southern Italy Primitivo
- Aroma — Plum, Cherry, Chocolate, Blackberry, Oak, Blackberry, Black Fruit, Blueberry
- Grapes — Primitivo
- Taste — Dark Ripe Cherry, Licorice, Pomegranate, Mint, Jam, Cranberry
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Lasagna, Red Pasta, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Roasted Lamb
Tasting Notes
Produced in Southern Italy, the Primitivo di Manduria is the best red wine with lasagna. It has medium acidity that beautifully balances a lasagna’s multiple layers. It has an intense ruby red color with a dark core. On the nose, Conte di Campiano’s Primitivo delights with a bouquet of juicy plums, figs, cherries, raisins, and other ripe fruits. Hints of vanilla and cinnamon can also be detected.
The wine has silky tannins and a robust body with a burst of sweetness and fresh acidity along with a long spicy finish. This beautiful crimson red wine by Conte di Campiano is produced from hand-picked Primitivo grapes. The grapes undergo traditional mash fermentation in stainless steel tanks, under controlled temperatures, for two weeks. Once the aromas are extracted, the wine is allowed to age in oak barrels for four to six months.
Ricossa Barbera Appassimento
- Winery — Ricossa
- Country/Region — Italy, Piemonte
- Type — Italian Barbera
- Aroma — Red Fruits, Vanilla, Plum, Berries
- Grapes — Barbera
- Taste — Red Apples, Blueberries, Vanilla, Chocolate
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Lasagna, Anything With Truffles, Herbaceous Cheese, Pork Tenderloin
Winemaking
This stunning garnet wine by Ricossa, made in the Piemonte region, is crafted to have low tannins and high acidity, making it a perfect wine to pair with tomato-based dishes like lasagna and pizza. The Barbera Appassimento is the first official Piemonte DOC Barbera that is made using the appassimento method of winemaking. In this process, the grapes are partially dehydrated. This allows the flavors, aromas, and color of the wine to be more concentrated. The winery was approved to produce the wine using the appassimento method in 2014. In this method, the harvested grapes are dried for several weeks in a temperature-controlled room.
Tasting Notes
The grapes are then macerated in stainless steel tanks for 10-12 days, after which the wine is aged in barriques for six months. This process is then followed by aging them in bottles for another two months. The Barbera has enticing aromas of plums, vanilla, and blackberries, with hints of chocolate rounded off by subtle floral and smoky notes. The palate is elegantly balanced with soft acidity, fruity sweetness, and smooth tannins. The effect of the appassimento method is more evident in the rich, smooth palate. It has a great depth and balance of dark fruits. You can taste blackberries, dark chocolate, jam, vanilla, and hints of delicate smokiness.
Conclusion
Finding that perfect lasagna wine pairing can truly enhance your traditional Italian dining experience. The wines mentioned above are some of the best choices to enhance the flavors of a classic lasagna. And, depending on the type of lasagna, there’s a wide variety of wines to choose from. So, if there’s one thing to remember when selecting your wine — always aim to complement the ingredients of the dish. Choose the right wine to wash down all the creamy goodness of the lasagna, and you’ll have a culinary experience like no other!
