Pizza and wine make a very satisfying pair when enjoyed at home. To get it just right, you need to match the wine to the pizza topping, rather than just the crust or sauce. Since each topping has its own unique flavor, richness, fat, spice, and intensity, the best wine to pair with it depends on what's actually on top of the pizza.

This guide will help you find the perfect wine to go with every major pizza topping, so you can make the right choice every time.

The General Rule: Match the Weight and Flavor

• Rich toppings pair with richer wines

• Light toppings pair with lighter wines

• Spicy toppings pair with fruity or refreshing wines

• Tomato based pizzas pair well with wines that have acidity

• Cheese heavy pizzas pair with wines that cut through fat

Once you understand this rule, pairing wine with pizza becomes easy.

1. Best Wine for Margherita Pizza

Margherita pizza has tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil. You need wine with bright acidity to complement the sauce and enough freshness to lift the cheese.

Top wines:

• Sangiovese

• Chianti

• Vermentino

• Pinot Grigio

• Rosé

Why it works:

Sangiovese mirrors the acidity of the tomato sauce. Vermentino and Pinot Grigio keep the pairing light and refreshing.

Featured snippet answer:
The best wine for Margherita pizza is Sangiovese because it matches the acidity of the tomato sauce and enhances the fresh mozzarella and basil.

2. Best Wine for Pepperoni Pizza

Pepperoni is salty, spicy, and rich. Your wine needs fruit, acidity, and moderate tannins.

Top wines:

• Sangiovese

• Barbera

• Zinfandel

• Lambrusco

• Pinot Noir

Why it works:

These wines lift the spice and salt of pepperoni while balancing tomato sauce. Lambrusco is especially refreshing with pepperoni.

Featured snippet answer:
The best wine for pepperoni pizza is Sangiovese or Barbera because they balance the spice, salt, and richness of pepperoni.

3. Best Wine for Cheese Pizza

Cheese pizza is simple but rich, so you need wine with acidity to balance the fat.

Top wines:

• Chianti

• Barbera

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Chardonnay (unoaked)

Why it works:

These wines cut through cheese and complement a classic slice.

4. Best Wine for Meat Lover’s Pizza

Meat pizzas are heavy, salty, and full of bold flavors.

Top wines:

• Syrah or Shiraz

• Zinfandel

• Cabernet Sauvignon

• Red blends

Why it works:

Bold wines with spice and structure stand up to sausage, pepperoni, bacon, and ham.

5. Best Wine for Hawaiian Pizza

Hawaiian pizza is sweet, salty, and tangy. You need wine that handles sweetness and balances pineapple.

Top wines:

• Riesling (off dry)

• Gewürztraminer

• Rosé

• Lambrusco

Why it works:

Fruit forward wines match the sweetness of pineapple and the saltiness of ham.

Featured snippet answer:
The best wine for Hawaiian pizza is off dry Riesling because it complements pineapple sweetness and balances salty ham.

6. Best Wine for Mushroom Pizza

Mushrooms bring earthiness to pizza. You need wine with depth and savory character.

Top wines:

• Pinot Noir

• Nebbiolo

• Sangiovese

• Chardonnay

Why it works:

Pinot Noir enhances earthy flavors. Chardonnay works well with creamy mushroom sauces.

7. Best Wine for BBQ Chicken Pizza

BBQ sauce is sweet, smoky, and tangy.

Top wines:

• Zinfandel

• Shiraz

• Rosé

• Pinot Noir

Why it works:

These wines match sweetness and smoke without overwhelming the chicken.

8. Best Wine for Veggie Pizza

Veggie pizzas can be bright or earthy depending on toppings.

Top wines:

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Pinot Noir

• Rosé

• Vermentino

Why it works:

The wines have enough freshness to handle vegetables and enough acidity to balance cheese.

9. Best Wine for White Pizza (No Tomato Sauce)

White pizza is creamy, cheesy, and rich.

Top wines:

• Chardonnay

• Viognier

• Pinot Gris

• Sparkling wine

Why it works:

These wines complement creaminess and uplift garlic and cheese.

10. Best Wine for Breakfast Pizza

Breakfast pizzas include eggs, bacon, cheese, and sometimes gravy.

Top wines:

• Prosecco

• Sparkling Rosé

• Chardonnay

Why it works:

Bubbles cleanse the palate and match the richness of breakfast toppings.

Wine Pairing Chart for Pizza