Wine pairing
Best wine for Italian soups
Last updated
Soup is tricky for wine because it is liquid and often mild, so lighter, fresher wines work best. A crisp white with bean or fish soup, or a light red with a hearty Tuscan bowl. Here are the wines on our list we match with soup.
Quick answer
Keep it light: a crisp white like Verdicchio or Vernaccia for fish and bean soups, or a light Sangiovese with ribollita and minestrone.
3 wines to pour
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Verdicchio · Marche
Lemon, green almond, bitter-edged finish. Serve at 48°F / 9°C.
Larry: “The bitter-almond finish loves fried food.”
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Vernaccia · Tuscany
Dry, mineral, faint bitter almond. Serve at 48°F / 9°C.
Larry: “Tuscany drinks red, except when it doesn't.”
Vermentino di Gallura
Vermentino · Sardinia
Fuller, saline, herbal. Serve at 48°F / 9°C.
Larry: “Seafood stew wine with a sea breeze built in.”
Cooking it tonight? Start with Italian soups, then learn the basics in Wine Pairing 101.
Questions people ask
What wine goes with minestrone?
A light, fresh red or a crisp white.
What wine goes with fish soup?
A crisp coastal white such as Verdicchio.
What wine goes with white bean soup?
A dry Tuscan white such as Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Do you need wine with soup?
Not at all — but a small glass of a light wine is a nice match.