Dry Lambrusco Grasparossa, Barbera and Nero d'Avola are the classic wines for meat lasagna. Each has the acidity to match the tomato and enough fruit to stand up to ragù, béchamel and Parmigiano. For a vegetable lasagna, pour a crisp white such as Soave or dry Riesling.
Lasagne alla bolognese comes from Bologna, in Emilia. The recipe the Accademia Italiana della Cucina registered there in 2003 layers green spinach pasta with ragù, béchamel, butter and Parmigiano Reggiano at least 6 times.
All that cheese sauce makes lasagna richer than spaghetti with meat sauce, so Fiona Beckett of Matching Food & Wine suggests slightly fuller reds for it. In Emilia the local answer is Lambrusco Grasparossa, a deep-colored red that is usually sparkling.
What in lasagna matters for wine
Tomato
Tart tomato calls for a red with fresh acidity, such as Barbera or Sangiovese.
Meat ragù
Slow-cooked ragù is deeply savory. Dry Lambrusco Grasparossa has the light tannin to meet it.
Béchamel
The cheese sauce makes each layer richer, so Fiona Beckett leans toward slightly fuller reds.
Parmigiano
Aged cheese adds salt to every layer, and salt makes a red's tannin feel softer.
Lasagna and wine by how it is made
Scroll the table sideways to see every column
| Lasagna | Wine | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Lasagne verdi alla bolognese | Dry Lambrusco Grasparossa | Decanter calls the dry (secco) style the most versatile wine for Bologna's lasagne, since its smooth texture and light tannin handle savory ragù. |
| Meat lasagna with ricotta and mozzarella | Barbera or Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | A heavy tomato sauce needs a tart, medium-bodied red, and both grapes carry fresh acidity. |
| Sausage lasagna | Nero d'Avola or Negroamaro | Fiona Beckett names these southern Italian reds for lasagna, and their extra body suits a fattier filling. |
| Classic meat lasagna | Sangiovese di Romagna or Chianti Classico | Fiona Beckett names Sangiovese di Romagna as the local red, and Sangiovese's acidity and moderate tannin balance the tomato. |
| Vegetable lasagna | Soave, dry Riesling or Tavel rosé | Crisp whites and dry rosé contrast the creamy béchamel and the sweetness of the vegetables. |
| Salmon and spinach lasagna | Chablis or unoaked Chardonnay | Dry, mineral whites balance salmon and béchamel without adding weight. |
| Pesto lasagna | Vermentino | Liguria uses pesto on lasagne, and Vermentino is Liguria's native white grape. |
Why these wines work with lasagna
Tomato sauce is high in acidity. Wine Folly recommends a relatively tart, medium-bodied red for it, because a wine with less acidity than the sauce tastes flat next to it. Barbera and Sangiovese fit that description, and both are on Fiona Beckett's list for lasagna.
Béchamel, butter and Parmigiano add fat and salt to every layer. Acidity in the wine cuts that fat, and the bubbles in Lambrusco rinse your palate between bites. Decanter notes that dry Grasparossa often keeps a touch of sugar, 12 to 15 grams per liter, which softens its tannin, the drying grip that comes from grape skins.
Wines to avoid with lasagna
Skip big, oaky reds high in tannin and alcohol. Their grip and weight pile onto a dish that is already heavy with cheese and meat.
Check the Lambrusco label. Amabile Lambrusco, the sweet style, carries 40 to 50 grams of sugar per liter, and next to a savory, salty lasagna it reads as sweet. Look for secco, which means dry.
Natural wines to try with lasagna
- Pezzuoli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOP NV: This is 100% Lambrusco Grasparossa from Maranello in Emilia-Romagna, the grape Decanter pairs with Bologna's lasagne.
- Il Farneto Giandon Red Blend NV: A dry, still red from Emilia that blends Lambrusco Grasparossa with Marzemino and Malbo Gentile, for the regional match without bubbles.
- Piccolo Goccio Barbera d'Asti 2024: Made only in stainless steel, this Barbera keeps its fresh acidity and low tannin, which suits a lasagna heavy on tomato and ricotta.
- Alessandro Viola Note di Rosso 2024: An 80% Nero d'Avola and 20% Syrah blend from Alcamo in Sicily, with the body for a sausage or extra-meaty lasagna.
How to serve wine with lasagna
- Serve Lambrusco lightly chilled, at 54 to 57°F (12 to 14°C), the usual range for Lambrusco DOC.
- Serve Barbera, Nero d'Avola and other medium reds slightly cool, at 60 to 68°F (15 to 20°C).
- Serve whites and rosé for vegetable lasagna at 44 to 55°F (7 to 12°C).
- A standard wine glass works for every wine here, Lambrusco included.
- Open the bottle when the lasagna comes out of the oven. The lasagna needs to rest before you cut it, and the wine gets a few minutes in the glass.
Common questions about wine with lasagna
- What wine pairs well with lasagna?
- Dry Lambrusco Grasparossa, Barbera and Nero d'Avola are the classic wines for meat lasagna. For vegetable lasagna, a crisp white such as Soave or dry Riesling works better.
- Should you serve red or white wine with lasagna?
- Serve red with meat lasagna, since tomato and ragù need a red with acidity. Serve white or dry rosé with vegetable or seafood lasagna.
- Is Lambrusco good with lasagna?
- Yes. Dry Lambrusco Grasparossa is the traditional wine with lasagne in Emilia, and Decanter calls it the most versatile choice for Bologna's dishes.
- What wine goes with vegetable lasagna?
- Soave, dry Riesling, Chenin Blanc or a Tavel rosé. Their freshness contrasts the creamy béchamel and the sweet vegetables.
- Does Chianti go with lasagna?
- Yes. Chianti is made from Sangiovese, and its acidity and moderate tannin balance the tomato sauce and the richness of the dish.
- What wine should you avoid with lasagna?
- Avoid oaky, high-alcohol reds with heavy tannin, which make the dish feel heavier. Also avoid sweet (amabile) Lambrusco with meat lasagna.
Sources
- Bologna Welcome, Lasagne verdi alla bolognese (Accademia Italiana della Cucina recipe)
- Decanter, Food matching: Lessons in Lambrusco
- Matching Food & Wine, The best wine pairings for lasagna
- Matching Food & Wine, What wine goes with pasta?
- Millesima, Wine and lasagna
- Wine Folly, On pairing wine with pasta
- Vino Travels, Ligurian Vermentino and pesto
- Mike Madaio, Wine pairings for pesto
- Wine and Travel Italy, How to serve and pair Lambrusco DOC
- Wine Folly, Wine serving temperature
- Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC production rules (2024)
- Icon drawn from a photo by Softeis (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons
- Icon drawn from a photo by Rainer Zenz (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons
- Icon drawn from a photo by Zerohund (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons
