Wine and mozzarella: here are two things that are a great way to start an evening. The tomatoes are sliced, the basil is ready and the mozzarella is nice and soft. All that is left is to work out which wine to serve with mozzarella before you can enjoy this delicious dish. Let us guide you and you will find the perfect wine for your tasting. Before we begin, note that the tomato-mozzarella salad is also called “caprese salad”! Why? The story takes place in 1952, when the King of Egypt was passing through Capri. He asked his hotel to prepare something fresh for him. Nearly 60 years later, the tomato-mozzarella salad is an absolute summer classic. Discover the best pairings between wine and mozzarella.
Wine and mozzarella: the classic pairing
First of all, to pair wine and mozzarella, going for a white or a rosé makes complete sense. So let’s discover the best food and wine pairings for mozzarella and find out what to drink with mozzarella!
White wine and mozzarella
To start, the most classic pairing between wine and mozzarella is white wine. For this, go for a dry white. Lean toward young vintages to guarantee the wine’s freshness. Naturally, mozzarella invites us to turn to Italian wines. In that vein, Friuli can be an excellent choice. If you want a wine that is less fruity and leans more toward fruit, you can go for a Soave from Veneto. On the French side, you can enjoy your mozzarella with a wine from Corsica (such as a white Sartène, for example). This wine will work wonders blending with the taste of the mozzarella. A white Côtes du Rhône will also suit mozzarella very well. Finally, back to Italy, our favorite pairing is “Pinot Grigio”, a kind of Italian-style Pinot Gris. Impossible to describe, you have to taste it for yourself!
Rosé and mozzarella
On the other hand, rosé is a natural wine choice to go with mozzarella. Tavel, voted the best rosé in France, is a particularly well-chosen wine for this Italian cheese. With red fruit clearly present, there is no doubt this rosé is an excellent pairing with mozzarella. Famous and well regarded, the celebrated Pic Saint Loup will be a great ally for your mozzarella. So there is just one answer to the question: which wine with mozzarella? Go for a white or a rosé and your tasting will be a success!
Wine and tomato, mozzarella, basil
For a tomato, mozzarella and basil salad, there is no need to reinvent anything. The same rule applies. So choose a dry white or a rosé and your tomato-mozzarella salad will take on a new dimension. As mentioned earlier, a white Côtes du Rhône is a lovely idea to go with a caprese salad. With notes of white flowers, this white wine will highlight the creaminess of the mozzarella and balance the dish. For something more original, a white Cassis is a lovely pairing with wine and mozzarella. With a beautiful freshness and a touch of citrus balanced with white flowers, it is truly an ideal wine choice for a tomato-mozzarella salad. A white Cassis also usually has iodized notes that will bring to mind the sea and the sun! Finally, if you would like a rosé with your tomato-mozzarella salad, that is no problem. Choose a Côtes de Provence rosé. Here is an airy wine that will go beautifully with your dish. So for a caprese salad, the ideal food and wine pairing is a white or a rosé. In any case, go for a fairly light wine with fruity or floral notes. That is the way to fully enjoy this summer dish and bring freshness to your plates without worrying about the calories in wine!
Red wine and caprese salad
Finally, at the risk of disappointing you, it is very hard to eat a caprese salad with red wine. The tannins in red wine will be too present and will not show your dish off well. So focus on white and rosé: you will already be more than happy with your pairing.
About to enjoy some mozzarella and drink wine? Take the chance to fill in a tasting sheet. And good news, we are giving you one!
