Pairing The Right Wine with Caprese Salad Can Make or Break The Meal

Caprese salad, this simple Italian dish that takes a few minutes to make, is loved by many. It’s a great snack, appetizer, and even meal if you eat enough of it. Not only that, it’s a staple at almost any dinner party. 

So, if Caprese is on the menu for your next event and you are wondering which you should serve with it, you are in the right place! Read on to find out the perfect Caprese and wine pairing to wow your guests and even yourself.  

 

Do You Eat Caprese Salad Paired with Red or White Wine?

Caprese salad, which really consists of just three main ingredients, is simple, and you will need to pair it with a wine that embraces and enhances this simplicity. 

However, even though the salad is very basic, it contains tomatoes which are very acidic, so you must pair it with a wine that is bold enough to conquer the acidity. 

The perfect pairing for a Caprese salad is a crisp white wine. Red wines with lots of tannins can make the acidity of the tomatoes too harsh and will leave the person drinking with an unpleasant taste in their mouth. 

However, not all white wines are perfect candidates for a pairing with Caprese salad either. White wines that are oaky are not acidic enough to bring out the true flavors of this salad. 

Your best bet will be a crisp light or medium-bodied white like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Torrontes. 

Why Are Rosés So Popular with Caprese Salad?

Rosés are generally loved by many, even by people who wouldn’t place wine first in their alcohol preferences. 

Dry rosés are crispy and light which makes them the perfect match for Caprese salad. The acidity in these wines doesn’t clash with the acidity of the tomatoes but will soften the creaminess of the mozzarella. 

Delicate rosé wines will cleanse your palate between bites preparing your taste buds for the next juicy bite. You will get the ideal combination of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness with a sip of pink wine and a bite of Caprese salad. 

So, if you aren’t sure you are bold enough for a white or a red with your salad, then a light rosé is surely the way to go. 

 

Which Wines Are Traditionally Paired With Caprese Salad?

Wines that are paired with the delicious Caprese salad must be rich enough to handle the mozzarella’s creaminess but not strong enough to clash with the tomato. 

Therefore, the wines that are most often paired with Caprese salad are crisp and dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc. It is a well-known fact in the wine community that you must stay away from vibrant tannic red wines since they will clash with the salad flavors. 

If you want to stay near the region where Caprese salad was created, we suggest pairing it with Campania Whites like Falanghina. 

It’s a crispy white wine that has been around for decades and is popular in Italy. Another local wine comes from the island of Sardinia and is the well-known Vermentino wine. 

This grape variety cultivates a delicious, vibrant wine that is a great match for Caprese.

Which Wines are the Best Ones to Consume with Caprese Salad?

As we mentioned a few times in this article already, crisp white wines are the best for matching with Caprese salad. 

They are flavorful enough on their own but not strong enough to overpower and mask the taste of the salad. Stray away from tannic red wines and oaky white wines since these will either be too strong or will alter the flavors of your Caprese. 

However, recently Rosés have started to take the community by storm, and people love pairing these pink wines with a nice Caprese salad. Rosés are also crisp, similar to whites, which is one reason why these wines make a perfect candidate for pairing. 

These wines are also bright enough to enhance the salad flavors but not enough to mask the flavors. 

 

How Can You Know If Your Caprese Salad and Wine Match?

Although it would seem like this salad is fairly straightforward, a lot can go into tweaking the recipe. For example, the specific ingredients you use can determine whether a wine will match or not.

For example, you have the choice of adding vinegar to the dressing of the salad. This would alter the flavors and the wine pairing choices. 

Although the tannins in reds may be too much for a simple Caprese, a Caprese with vinegar would make for a perfect pairing with a medium-bodied red wine like Sangiovese. 

The herbs you use in your salad can also change the pairing choices. So before you mix up your dressing ingredients, we recommend you research to discover what wines match those ingredients. 

But you can never really know if the pairing is great until you try it, so don’t be afraid to take some risks.

Final Thoughts on Pairing Wine with Caprese Salad

Pairing foods with wines can be a daunting task, even when it comes to a salad as simple as Caprese. However, this shouldn’t stop you from mixing-and-matching wines with your salad. 

People who take risks and make bold decisions find the best wine and food combinations. So, use our tips as a guideline, get out there, and get to mixing.