Vermentino, the native white grape of Liguria where pesto comes from, is the classic wine for pesto pasta. Crisp, herbal whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Arneis and Gavi also work, and a dry rosé is a good choice if you want pink.
Pesto genovese is a raw sauce from Genoa, and its name comes from pestare, Italian for to pound. The Pesto Genovese Consortium lists 7 ingredients: Genovese basil, extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Sardo, pine nuts, garlic and salt. In Liguria it dresses trofie or trenette, often cooked with potatoes and green beans.
What in pesto matters for wine
Basil
Oak's vanilla and toast cover its delicate notes, so pick an unoaked white.
Olive oil
Raw extra virgin oil coats every piece of pasta. Vermentino's bright acidity lifts it off.
Parmigiano, Pecorino
2 aged cheeses add salt. A crisp white or dry rosé refreshes your palate after each bite.
Raw garlic
Pounded raw, garlic stays pungent. Vermentino's citrus and herbal notes hold up next to it.
Pesto and wine by dish
Scroll the table sideways to see every column
| Pesto dish | Wine | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Trofie or trenette al pesto genovese | Vermentino or Pigato | These are Liguria's own whites, with bright acidity, citrus and herbal notes and a salty edge from the sea. |
| Pesto with potatoes and green beans | Vermentino or Gavi | The dish is mainly about the basil, which suggests a smooth, dry white over a red. |
| Pesto pasta heavy on Parmigiano | Sauvignon Blanc | An herbaceous white matches the basil, and its acidity refreshes your palate after salty cheese. |
| Pesto with chicken or grilled vegetables | Dry rosé | Fiona Beckett suggests a crisp, dry rosé from Provence or the Languedoc for pesto. |
| Pesto with shrimp or other seafood | Vermentino or Picpoul de Pinet | Lean whites suit seafood pasta, and both appear on Wine Folly's list for pesto. |
| Pesto lasagne | Arneis or Gavi | Liguria also layers pesto into lasagne, and Arneis and Gavi are among the northern Italian whites that suit pesto. |
| Pistachio pesto | Solaris | Fiona Beckett found a light, citrusy Solaris a good match for a gentle, creamy pistachio pesto. |
| Pesto pasta with red wine | Young Barbera or Chianti | If you want red, pick one that is young, bright and fruity. |
Why these wines work with pesto
Basil is the centerpiece of pesto, so herbal wines echo it. Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino and Grüner Veltliner all appear on Wine Folly's list for green sauces.
Pesto is also full of fat and salt from olive oil, pine nuts and 2 cheeses. A wine with high acidity cuts the oil and refreshes your palate after the cheese.
Because pesto is raw, the garlic stays sharp while the basil stays delicate. Mike Madaio describes the sauce as both pungent and delicate, and he advises against aged, overripe, oaky or flabby wines that would bury the basil.
Wines to avoid with pesto
Skip oaky whites. The vanilla and toast from new oak cover the fresh basil, and a heavy, low-acid white feels flabby against olive oil.
Skip big, tannic reds. Tannin, the drying grip from grape skins, overpowers a delicate herb sauce. If you want red, choose a young, fruity Barbera or Chianti and serve it cool.
Natural wines to try with pesto
- Gaspard Sauvignon Blanc White Wine 2025: A Touraine Sauvignon Blanc aged on its lees in steel with no oak, the herbaceous grape Wine Folly suggests for pesto.
- Tenuta La Pergola Roero Arneis 2025: This 100% Arneis from Piedmont is made in stainless steel, one of the northern Italian whites that suit pesto.
- Le Coste Litrozzo Rosato Wine 2024: A dry rosé from volcanic soils in northern Lazio, in a one-liter bottle, for pesto with chicken or grilled vegetables.
- Pojer e Sandri Zero Infinito Pet-Nat NV: A 100% Solaris pet-nat, a sparkling wine bottled before fermentation ends, from Trentino, for a creamy pistachio pesto.
How to serve wine with pesto
- Serve whites and rosé at 44 to 55°F (7 to 12°C).
- Serve the pet-nat cold, at 38 to 45°F (3 to 7°C), and open it slowly over the sink.
- If you pour a young red, chill it to 55 to 60°F (12 to 15°C).
- Use a standard white wine glass for the whites, the rosé and the pet-nat.
- Open the bottle before you drain the pasta, since pesto is tossed in at the end and served right away.
Common questions about wine with pesto
- What wine pairs well with pesto pasta?
- Vermentino, the native white of Liguria, is the classic match. Sauvignon Blanc, Arneis, Gavi and dry rosé also work.
- What is the best white wine with pesto?
- Vermentino, followed by other crisp, herbal whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Gavi and Arneis. Skip oaky whites.
- Can you drink red wine with pesto?
- Yes, if it is young, bright and fruity, such as a simple Barbera or Chianti. Avoid big, tannic or oaky reds.
- Does Sauvignon Blanc go with pesto?
- Yes. Wine Folly recommends herbaceous whites like Sauvignon Blanc because basil is the centerpiece of the sauce.
- What wine goes with pesto chicken?
- A crisp, dry rosé or a Vermentino. Both have the acidity for the olive oil and cheese and do not overpower the basil.
- What Ligurian wine goes with pesto?
- Vermentino, Liguria's native white, or Pigato. Both are Ligurian grapes, like the Genovese basil in the sauce.
Sources
- Mangiare in Liguria, Pesto Genovese Consortium recipe
- Vino Travels, Ligurian Vermentino and pesto
- Matching Food & Wine, What wine goes with pasta?
- Matching Food & Wine, Pistachio pesto and Solaris
- Wine Folly, On pairing wine with pasta
- Mike Madaio, Wine pairings for pesto
- Wine Folly, Wine serving temperature
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- Icon drawn from a photo by Netha Hussain (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons
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