What could be better than taking a pan of lasagna out of a warm oven in the coldest months of winter? With that crunchy crust that’s still sizzling, the smell of meat sauce filling the kitchen, the table packed with place settings… because lasagne is a dish best shared with family and friends. Perhaps during a Sunday lunch – when there is more time to cook and just relax together.
What are the best wines to add to a dinner with lasagne? If it is the bolognese version (with béchamel sauce and ragù), there is only one answer: the wine must be red – with good acidity, medium body and a soft, fruity flavor. The vegetarian or fish variants, on the other hand, ask for white, rosé or even bubbly wines.
For lasagne alla bolognese:
Lambrusco di Sorbara, Rimosso 2018 Cantina della Volta
Let's start with a regional combination that can't be more classic: the liveliness of the Lambrusco cleanses the palate of the béchamel’s creaminess and the Remosso di Cantina della Volta, with its aromas of wild strawberries, goes oh-so-well with meat sauce.
Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Crepe 2018 Ca’ di Sopra
Staying in the same region, we suggest a local juicy and savory Sangiovese for a full-bodied taste. It ferments in steels and matures in cement with a small percentage of the wine (about 10%) that is passed through wood to acquire light spicy hints reminiscent of the nutmeg in the béchamel sauce.
Barbera d’Alba 2018 Cordero di Montezemolo
When you are looking for freshness and ease for the wine pairing, a Barbera comes to mind. The Barbera from Cordero di Montezemolo smells of blackberries, plums and cocoa with soft tannins and a smooth taste for sipping.
Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017 Famiglia Pasqua
A rich, warm and soft wine like Valpolicella Ripasso goes very well with hearty first courses like lasagne alla bolognese. We also like the Easter option for its intriguing aromas of morello cherry and blueberry.
Sicilia Nero d’Avola Lagnùsa 2017 Feudo Montoni
Fruity and fresh, this Nero d'Avola comes from a very old vineyard, planted in a remote corner of Sicily at an altitude of 600 meters. Its soft and enveloping character with spicy notes typical of the vine make it a perfect companion for lasagne with meat sauce.
For fish lasagne
Franciacorta Brut Alma Bellavista
A new classic, this version of lasagne is quick and tasty with a white salmon sauce instead of the usual red meat sauce. The creaminess of the béchamel, combined with the intense flavor of the salmon goes swimmingly well with a bubbly Metodo Classico – like the fresh and savory Franciacorta Brut Alma di Bellavista that features aromas reminiscent of ripe fruit and vanilla.
Negroamaro Kreos 2018 Castello Monaci
If the fish lasagne recipe you’re using includes a red tomato-based sauce, on the other hand, the right choice is an Apulian rosé. The negroamaro grapes used to produce this wine, such as those from Kreos di Castello Monaci, are fruity, intense and they include notes of the Mediterranean – ready to whisk you off to another land. A great pleasure to drink.
For vegetarian lasagne
Riviera Ligure di Ponente Pigato 2018 Maria Donata Bianchi
One of the most famous versions of vegetarian lasagne is pesto style – a recipe that goes very well with a Ligurian white like a Pigato. Maria Donata Bianchi’s is citrusy and complex with the right intensity for the taste of pesto and the creaminess of the béchamel.
Chianti Classico 2016 Tenuta Perano Frescobaldi
For lasagne with a white cream sauce with mushrooms, pair with a young red, rosy-cheeks kind of wine – like a Chianti Classico. Tenuta Perano's chianti contains intriguing aromas of raspberry, blackberry and cherry with hints of balsamic herbs and spices.
Nosiola 2018 Pojer & Sandri
Paired with a delicious lasagne made with artichokes, you’ll want to choose a light white wine that can go well with the delectably peculiar taste of the artichokes. A white from Trentino, for example, made with nosiola grapes is perfect with the right acidity and a low alcohol content.