Wine pairing

What wine goes with risotto?

By the Grappi team · Updated November 2026

92 /100
Top match

Chardonnay

Grappi pairing score: how well the match works, on a 100-point scale. Grappi's own assessment.

Short answer. Pour a dry white with body: a lightly oaked Chardonnay is the classic match for risotto. Its gentle oak and fresh acidity echo the creamy, Parmesan-rich rice without smothering it. A crisp Pinot Grigio or Soave works too, while mushroom and meat risottos take a light Pinot Noir.

The best wines for risotto

Chardonnay

White (lightly oaked)

Its rounded body and gentle oak match the creamy, buttery rice, while bright acidity keeps each forkful fresh.

Pinot Grigio

White (unoaked)

A crisp, unoaked Italian white cuts the starch and salty Parmesan, and it is the regional classic for lighter risottos.

Pinot Noir

Light red

A low-tannin red with earthy red-berry fruit flatters mushroom and meat risottos without burying the delicate rice.

Why it works

Risotto is rich and creamy, heavy on starch and often salty Parmesan, so the wine needs fresh acidity to cut through and enough body to keep up. Low tannin matters too, because tannin turns bitter and metallic against cheese and the soft rice. Preparation steers the pick: creamy and mushroom risottos take a rounded white or a light red, while seafood versions want a crisp, unoaked white.

Grappi scores every pairing out of 100 against a reference of 185,000 wines. Risotto with Chardonnay rates 92.

Serving tips

  • Saffron risotto alla Milanese served with osso buco can handle a structured red like Nebbiolo, but on its own it is happier with a fuller white such as Soave.
  • Chill crisp whites to around 9-11C, but let a lightly oaked Chardonnay warm to 11-12C, where its texture best matches the creamy rice.

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Risotto wine pairing FAQ

What wine goes best with risotto?
A lightly oaked Chardonnay is the safest all-rounder: it has the body to match creamy, Parmesan-rich risotto and the acidity to keep it fresh. For a crisper style, a dry Italian white like Pinot Grigio or Soave works just as well.
What wine goes with mushroom risotto?
Mushroom risotto is earthy and savory, so it can take a light red: Pinot Noir and Barbera are the classic matches. If you prefer white, a lightly oaked Chardonnay echoes the dish's richness.
Can you drink red wine with risotto?
Yes, as long as the red is light and low in tannin, since tannin clashes with cheese and the soft rice. Pinot Noir, Barbera and lighter Grenache suit mushroom and meat risottos, while big, tannic reds are better saved for steak.
What wine goes with seafood risotto?
Seafood risotto, which is made without cheese, wants a crisp, unoaked white with bright acidity. Vermentino, Pinot Grigio and dry Soave all let the shellfish come through.
What wine should I use to cook risotto?
Use a dry white you would happily drink, such as Pinot Grigio, Soave or an unoaked Chardonnay, and add it after toasting the rice. Avoid anything sweet or heavily oaked, and skip bottles labelled cooking wine, which are salty and dull.
What wine goes with risotto alla Milanese?
Saffron risotto alla Milanese is delicate but golden and rich, so a fuller dry white like Soave or a lightly oaked Chardonnay is the classic match. When it is served with osso buco, a structured regional red such as Nebbiolo also works.

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