What wine to drink with Risotto?

Sep 30, 2024

Risotto, an iconic Italian dish, offers a versatility that allows it to be paired with a variety of wines. Each type of risotto, whether it’s mushroom, seafood, or saffron, has unique flavors that call for specific wine pairings to enhance the taste experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide to choosing the perfect wine to pair with different types of risotto.

Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom risotto is rich in earthy, umami flavors, often enhanced with wild mushrooms like porcini or chanterelles.

If you prefer red wine rather than white then choose a light red otherwise for a white choose a dry and unwooded one . Here are our suggestions:


Light Red Wine:

  • Pinot Noir : This light red wine, with its red fruit aromas and low tannin content, complements the subtle, earthy flavors of the mushrooms without overpowering them.
  • Beaujolais : A young, fresh and fruity Beaujolais, with few tannins which would erase the taste of the risotto, brings a beautiful harmony with the mushrooms thanks to its notes of red fruits and a lively acidity. For example, a Brouilly - Sous les Balloquets 2022 from Maison Louis Jadot in a half-bottle.


White Wine:

  • Unoaked Chardonnay : A fresh, unoaked Chardonnay brings out the flavors of the mushrooms with its roundness and balance.
  • Sauvignon Blanc : With its herbal notes and liveliness, Sauvignon Blanc can provide an interesting and refreshing contrast to mushroom risotto.


Risotto with scallops



Scallops bring a sweetness and delicate texture to risotto, often accompanied by notes of citrus or herbs.

Dry White Wine:

  • Chablis : This wine, with its minerality and freshness, pairs perfectly with scallops, accentuating their sweetness and adding a nice dimension. For example, the 2022 Chablis from Domaine d'Elise in a half-bottle.
  • Sancerre : A Sancerre, with its aromas of citrus and white flowers, offers a beautiful harmony with the delicate texture of the scallops.


Champagne:

  • Champagne Brut : The fine bubbles and freshness of the Champagne bring a festive and refreshing touch, bringing out the subtle flavors of the scallops.


Saffron Risotto (Risotto alla Milanese)


Saffron risotto, typical of Milan, is rich in spicy aromas and a characteristic golden color.

White Wine:

  • Gavi : This Italian white wine, with its aromas of flowers and citrus fruits, provides a nice complement to the spicy and delicate notes of saffron.
  • Vermentino : With its fruity notes and freshness, Vermentino is an excellent choice to accompany the subtle, slightly spicy flavors of saffron.


Light Red Wine:

  • Pinot Noir from Burgundy : This red wine, with its aromas of red fruits and lively acidity, can also pair well with saffron risotto, bringing a nice complexity.

Vegetable Risotto (Asparagus, Zucchini)


Vegetable risottos are fresh and light, often accompanied by seasonal vegetables such as asparagus or zucchini.

Dry and Fresh White Wine:

  • Sauvignon Blanc : Its liveliness and herbaceous aromas blend perfectly with the freshness of the vegetables, offering a harmonious and refreshing pairing.
  • Pinot Gris : Light and fruity, Pinot Grigio is an excellent companion for vegetable risottos, thanks to its delicate texture and citrus notes.


Rosé Wine:

  • Rosé de Provence : A fresh and fruity rosé from Provence adds a light, summery touch, complementing the flavors of the vegetables well.

Seafood Risotto


Seafood risotto is often rich in marine flavors, with ingredients like shrimp, mussels or squid.

Dry White Wine:

  • Muscadet : This wine, with its minerality and freshness, is a classic choice to accompany seafood, highlighting its salty flavors.
  • Vermentino : Its fruity notes and liveliness pair perfectly with the richness of seafood.

Rosé Wine:

Truffle Risotto


Truffles bring complex and intense flavors, often described as earthy and umami.

Red Wine:

  • Red Burgundy : A red Burgundy, with its red fruit aromas and elegance, is an excellent choice to accompany the rich, complex flavors of truffles.


White Wine:

  • Chardonnay : A Chardonnay with good acidity and ripe fruit aromas can also be a good choice to accompany a truffle risotto, balancing its intense flavors.


By following these suggestions, you will be able to fully appreciate the richness of flavors of each type of risotto, while discovering new wine combinations that will enrich your culinary experience. Feel free to experiment and adapt these recommendations according to your personal tastes and the specificities of each dish.

Dare to try half-bottle wine!