This is about which wine makes the best pairing for risotto and it all depends on the type of risotto that we chose to eat.

Carnaroli rice

Quite simply, it’s a good match for unpretentious food and wine pairing. Like other dishes the perfect wine match for risotto depends on the flavorings for the risotto rather than the rice itself – the lighter the dish, the lighter and fresher the wine.

Risotto n’ about

Rice or Oryza Sativa is the most consumed cereal in the world, especially in Asia.

The Italian risotto is one the best preparation to exalt the flavors of the rice and to be creative and flexible in selecting the ingredients. The rice is toasted in olive oil or butter and “soffritto. Then the stock – seafood, meat or vegetables stock depending on the other ingredients – is added slowly, to cook the risotto for about 20 minutes.

The best varieties of rice for Risotto are Carnaroli and Arborio, because their large and long grains, the capacity of maintaining their texture during the preparation and the high content of gluten, which will make the risotto creamy without adding extra cream or milk.

The risotto is usually a delicate, creamy dish, served among the first courses on an Italian menu. It’s typical of the northern half of Italy rather than the south, particularly the Lombardia region.

About pairing

The rice has sweet tendency but to select the perfect wine pairing for a risotto, you have to look at the flavorings of the risotto rather than the rice itself.

Risotto with seafood

The perfect way to pair a seafood risotto is with a young white wine, fresh and sapid, of medium structure, like a Sauvignon Blanc. This kind of risotto includes ingredients such as crab, vongole or shrimps.

Mushroom risotto by simplyrecipes

Another classic risotto is the one with mushrooms. It is best paired with pairing a smooth and full-bodied white wine, crisp and sapid, like a Chardonnay from the Langhe area, in the Piedmont region.

Risotto alla Milanese by Trialx

The risotto with saffron is also known as risotto ‘alla Milanese’ and it matches perfectly a red wine slightly tannic such as a Valpolicella Classico. In general saffron is a spice that pairs just as well with red wine as with white.

Risotto with truffle and porcini mushrooms by Colomba restaurant

If the risotto is a bit richer go for a richer wine. For example a risotto with truffles is perfect with an earthy and medium body Barbaresco.

Risotto with Gorgonzola by gingerandtomato

Last one is a risotto with a strong flavor such as the risotto with Gorgonzola, a strong Italian blue cheese similar to the French Rochefort. To pair this rich risotto you need a red wine with a bitter finish like a Negroamaro.

Enjoying a risotto is all about the creaminess of the dish and the texture of the rice so you don’t want a wine that’s too intrusive either in terms of fruit character or tannin.

Which are your favorite pairings for different risotto? Share your secrets with us and enjoy one of the simplest and most delicious dishes of Italian cuisine!