Wow! What a Combo!
My name is Ofa Faingaanuku, my contributions are from a Wine Curious perspective. Not quite the educated and structured, finesse The Wine Chief – Semisi brings to the table. Just some great experiences through this nectar filled with stories that ends up helping you tell a few stories after a couple. haha
The Combination revelation happened in the late/early hours in my home in Kelvinside, Glasgow. The reference to those hours usually mean you have a “had a few…” not this time, maybe in future stories perhaps?
I had just returned from the Stadium we had a home game, I was playing for Glasgow Warriors a professional outfit in the UK. Our matches at home were usually Friday nights under the lights. I forget the match up that evening but as always, hard fought, very very cold and bodies matching the adverb emphasis in the previous line very very sore.
The Preparations for the match usually involves normal firing up of the body for movements we want to perform in the match. For our mental space, especially at that time of night, stimulants that will aid concentration and alertness are common. The obvious sugar spike with, sports drinks, lollies, gels and high carb snacks. Caffeine is another obvious stimulant taken by the boys, in coffee form, energy shots and drinks, and the pre-workouts powder mixes. In some cases with the mentality of “leaving no stone unturned…” it was common players would take a combination of most of those stimulants to get the edge in elite sport. The problem is, the overkill means along with the natural adrenalin post match it is difficult to come down at that time of the night because of this lottery concoction. hahaha
I feel, because of nerves that my fitness (which was not always great) would not hold up in my performance, for preparation in went the pre-match high carb meal, lollies easy to binge on with the nervous behaviours, a shot of Red Bull concentrate, and a bottle of pre-workout mixed ready to consume 20mins in the match from the bench. So sleeping or feeling sleepy when arriving at home post midnight was out of the question till at least 2am.
Knowing this late/early hours sleep time. I ordered dinner Papa Johns, Large Pepperoni Pizza to feed the post match appetite, even though we had a post match feed at reception. My wife and kids drove to her Mothers family farm south in Gloucestershire, England. So looking forward to consuming this Pizza at home without sharing. haha. In the Scotland at that time, buying a beer or any alcohol from the shops ceased at 10pm, my cupboards and fridge were bare from beer. I looked around and found a bottle of wine. I can’t remember what grape varietal it was, all I remember is that it was Red. I have heard red wine was good with pizza. Then, I wasn’t much of a wine fan, I can say I was 2 years into my curiosity then, I could only then find it appealing to my palate (didn’t know what that meant either. haha).
I have set my late evening, ordered my Pizza, found my bottle of wine to have with my pizza. I already recorded the last episode and winner reveal for a show called ‘Come dine with Me’ for the readers who have lived in UK they know. Loved the show!
Ding, dong, Bell rings. I receive my large pizza with post match appetite, ‘Come dine with Me’ winner pending, visions of people eating pizza with wine coming to me as I pour my glass. One bite, one sip…. Wow! What a Combo!
I repeat, a bite of fatty cheesiness, saltiness from the pepperoni, sour and sweet from the tomato base sauce and carby chewy Papa Johns crust, washed down with this red liquid which cleanses as well as offers a new experience altogether from eating to drinking and then wanting to do it over again. The meal was completed altogether with the last bite and the last drop of the bottle consumed simultaneously.
This experience opened up my eyes to food and drink combinations, along with the tip from my Father-in-law saying “Most Asian foods are great with lager,,,”. 100% agree that is cool also.
I still don’t remember the bottle I drank, but I remember the experience. These days I opt for a light Pinot Noir, nothing overpowering with my pizza, I often go the Garlic Prawn pizza but lately of kept my choices more simpler the Margherita, 1. to challenge the place I am ordering from whether they are able to execute on simple ingredients to make a classic taste amazing, 2. Experimenting at this age I leave for wine. haha
Here is a much more educated contribution I searched for,
Why Red Wine and Pizza Go So Well Together
The main reason red wine pairs naturally with pizza is the shared acidity between the tomato sauce and many red wine styles. Tomato-based sauces have a bright, tangy acidity that can clash with low-acid wines — but Italian reds like Chianti (Sangiovese), Barbera, and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo have enough acidity to match and balance the sauce, refreshing the palate with each bite.
(Source: Decanter Magazine, “How to Pair Wine with Pizza”)Beyond acidity, tannins and texture play a key role. The moderate tannins in reds such as Barbera d’Asti or Pinot Noir cut through melted cheese and rich toppings, keeping the combination from feeling heavy. Fuller-bodied reds like Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon work best with meat toppings (pepperoni, sausage) because their structure complements the fat and salt.
(Source: Wine Enthusiast, “The Best Wine for Pizza”)For a simple guide:
- Margherita Pizza → Chianti or Barbera
- Pepperoni Pizza → Syrah or Zinfandel
- Mushroom Pizza → Pinot Noir
- BBQ Chicken Pizza → Shiraz or Merlot
(Source: Food & Wine, “Wine Pairings for Pizza”)
The harmony comes down to chemistry: tomato acidity, cheese fat, and wine tannin balance each other out, creating that comforting, satisfying experience that makes red wine and pizza such a timeless pairing.
Hope you enjoyed this contribution, looking forward to sharing more from my Wine Curious perspective. Its a fun and enlightening experience learning about wine and the whole industry.
Keep well! TYL!
ofahelotu