Best Whites Wine for Spaghetti Sauce

Most people think that red wine is the only wine for cooking spaghetti sauce as most of them are red. Not too many are aware of the fact that white wine is also great for various kinds of spaghetti sauce, from something with chopped tomatoes to one with seafood. Some white wines, however, go much better with certain spaghetti sauce types.

For cooking spaghetti sauce, light- to medium-bodied white wines are the best varieties as they will not overpower the spaghetti sauce, especially if it has delicate flavors. Dry white wines that are not too sweet and acidic are also perfect as they will let the spaghetti sauce ingredients shine.

When choosing the right white wine for cooking spaghetti, it’s not the pasta that you should take into account — it’s the spaghetti sauce that you will toss into the pasta that you should focus on.

No matter if the recipe calls for the use of a white wine you don’t have or you want to customize one by adding white wine into the sauce, read on. This article is all about the best white wine for spaghetti sauce. You can consider this as a crash course on becoming a master of cooking delicious spaghetti sauce with white wine.

Best White Wines for Tomato-Based Spaghetti Sauce

The best white wine for cooking tomato-based spaghetti sauce is something that’s not too sweet as to considerably mellow down the natural acidity of the tomatoes. Pinot Grigio is the best white wine for the job because it has mild fruity flavors and sweetness, too. An alternative to Pinot Grigio is Albariño.

It was back in the 16th century when the very first spaghetti with a tomato-based sauce was eaten. No one’s really sure whether it was in Naples or Sicily — but everyone agrees it originated in the southern region of Italy.

When cooking a tomato-based spaghetti sauce, stick to white wine with not a lot of sweetness.

So, in other words, just about any dry white wine will do. Going for one with a mild fruity flavor of your liking is also a great idea as it will add some depth to the tomato-based sauce for your spaghetti.

Best White Wines for Cheese-Based Spaghetti Sauce

The best white wine for cooking cheese-based spaghetti sauce is something that allows the cheese to shine and enhances the creaminess of the sauce, too. Light- to medium-bodied white wine such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling are great for the job.

They pair very well with many cheese types, too.

Most cheese-based spaghetti sauces do not have many other ingredients. The goal is to make the spaghetti sauce taste as simple as possible, thus allowing the cheese to stand out.

And this is the reason why white wine that’s either light-bodied or medium-bodied should be used. Something that’s dry and has a low tannin content is also great for cooking cheese-based spaghetti sauce as it will not counteract the natural saltiness of the cheese, no matter what it is that you particularly like for your spaghetti sauce.

Best White Wines for Spaghetti Sauce With Meat

The best white wine for cooking meaty spaghetti sauce is medium-bodied such as Chardonnay or White Rioja as it will highlight the spaghetti sauce’s meatiness. Despite the general consensus that dishes with meat should be cooked with red wine, white wine is also great for cooking spaghetti sauce with meat.

Stay away from full-bodied white wines when cooking spaghetti sauce with meat, especially ground meat. You should also do the same if you like your spaghetti sauce with pork, lamb, veal or chicken instead.

It’s true that red wine is the go-to wine of many chefs when cooking an assortment of meat dishes.

However, white wine can also shine as a cooking wine! As a matter of fact, white wine is superb for spaghetti sauces, including meaty ones, as it can elevate the flavor profile without overpowering any of the ingredients.

Best White Wines for Spaghetti Sauce With Seafood

The best white wine for cooking seafood spaghetti sauce is something that’s delicate and light-bodied. Because it contains less alcohol, it is lighter in the mouth and thus will not suppress the taste of seafood. Some good examples of white wines perfect for seafood spaghetti sauce are Chablis, Pinot Grigio and Alsace.

Spaghetti sauces with clams, shrimp and other seafood can be extremely hearty and rich. When cooking them with wine, the goal should be anything but to eclipse the flavor of seafood or make the sauce taste more complex.

This is why the best white wine for cooking seafood spaghetti sauce is dry and light-bodied, something that isn’t too sweet and doesn’t have a lot of alcohol.

Besides for cooking spaghetti sauce with seafood, the white wine of your liking may be served with your seafood spaghetti masterpiece, too!

Best White Wines for Spaghetti Sauce With Vegetables

The best white wine for cooking spaghetti sauce containing vegetables is something that enables the freshness and flavors of vegetables to remain intact. Just about any light-bodied dry wine is good for the job, such as Chardonnay. Soave, Riesling and Pinot Gris are also great for cooking vegetable spaghetti sauce.

If you love spaghetti sauce with vegetables, chances are that you are a health-conscious person who loves the crunch and flavor of veggies. And this is why the right white wine to add to the sauce is one with a very light body.

Mildly flavored white wines are fantastic for vegetable spaghetti sauces since they will also allow any seasoning you will add to sing. If the white wine is something you will be able to sip at any given time, chances are that it will complement the spaghetti sauce with the vegetables you want to cook.

Best White Wine for Spaghetti Sauce With Herbs and Spices

The best white wine for cooking spaghetti sauce with a base of herbs and spices is the light- to medium-body kind as it will not overpower the spaghetti sauce, especially if the star ingredient has a delicate flavor. Soave, Sauvignon Blanc and other dry white wines are ideal for spaghetti sauce with herbs and spices.

Most people who prefer spaghetti sauces whose primary ingredients are herbs and spices want to make sure that the herbs and spices of their liking will fill their mouths with their characteristic flavors with every bite.

Well, it’s for this reason exactly why light- to medium-bodied white wines are the best for just about any herby or spicy spaghetti sauce — the lower the alcohol content and the less fuller in the mouth, the better. White wine that’s perfect for vegetable spaghetti sauces is also great for herb- or spice-based spaghetti sauces.

Just Before You Cook Spaghetti Sauce With Wine

Refrain from assuming spaghetti sauce is best cooked with red wine only since the majority of them are red in color. Whether the spaghetti sauce is red or any other color in the spectrum, you can add white wine to it. To know which bottle of white wine you should reach for, consider the type of spaghetti sauce.

Above, we talked about the best white wines for cooking an assortment of spaghetti sauce types, from something that’s tomato-based to one that’s heavy on herbs or spices.

Keep in mind that it’s also a great idea to opt for a nice white wine for cooking spaghetti sauce. It’s a good thing that you don’t have to spend a lot just to make a big impression at the table. In most instances, you can opt for a white wine with a price tag that’s below $10 or $20 and still be able to serve spaghetti with a winning sauce.

Related Article: Best Wines for Cooking Chicken Marsala

Can you cook spaghetti in white wine?

It’s possible to cook spaghetti in white wine and water. The right ratio is three cups of white wine for every five cups of water. However, since much of the flavor of the white wine will be likely burned off by the time the spaghetti is cooked, it’s not unlikely for the white wine to be hard to pick up.

Is there a difference between regular white wine and cooking white wine?

The main difference between regular white wine and cooking white wine is the quality. Individuals who like drinking white wine and cooking with it, too, should opt for regular white wine. Cooking white wine is safe to drink, but it’s not intended to be enjoyable as a drink.