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Italian & takeout · Wine pairing

What wine goes with lasagna?

Lasagna’s meat, tomato and cheese call for a medium-bodied Italian red: Sangiovese, Barbera or Montepulciano.

The rule: Rich and cheesy, so the wine needs acidity and moderate tannin.

By Rate This Wine editors · Updated · How we rate

Lasagna

The 3 best wines with lasagna

  1. Sangiovese (Chianti)

    1 Sangiovese (Chianti) Medium-bodied red

    Chianti or Rosso di Montalcino: tomato’s best friend.

    Serve 60-64°F Chianti from $12; Brunello $50+

  2. Barbera

    2 Barbera Medium-bodied red

    Juicy acidity cuts through layers of cheese.

    Serve 58-62°F From $14

  3. Merlot

    3 Merlot Medium-to-full red

    Plush and round for meat-heavy lasagna.

    Serve 60-65°F Great value from $12; Right Bank Bordeaux $40+

Best on a budget: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

Also good

ZinfandelTempranillo (Rioja)Nebbiolo (Barolo)

What to avoid

  • Light whites. Overwhelmed by the richness.

It depends how you cook it

If you’re having…Pour
Vegetable lasagnaBarbera or a dry rosé.
White (béchamel) lasagnaChardonnay or Pinot Grigio.

Why Italian reds win

Lasagna stacks three wine-challenging ingredients: acidic tomato, rich cheese and savory meat. A wine needs acidity to match the sauce, enough body for the meat, and moderate tannin so the cheese doesn’t turn it chalky. Sangiovese and Barbera tick all three boxes, which is why they’re what Italians pour.

Serving tip: open a Chianti Classico about 20 minutes before dinner and serve it slightly cool, around 60-62°F.

Frequently asked questions

What wine goes with lasagna?

Chianti and other Sangiovese wines are ideal. Barbera is a great softer option.

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