What to drink with risotto? - Food & Wine

If you are in a hurry

It all depends on your preparation!

• For a vegetable risotto, opt for a white wine: a Loire white or a Vouvray .
• For a meat-based risotto, choose red wines: a Beaujolais, some from Bordeaux or the Loire .
• For a fish-based risotto, choose a white wine (from Alsace) or a Château de Prémeaux white Burgundy!
• For a spicy risotto, choose a rosé or a white wine: a Pinot Blanc.
• For a cheese-based risotto, you can opt for the Tradition Blanc from Château Darlay or Domaine de Venus in Côte du Roussillon .

Wines for every type

Risotto comes in countless variations. We can classify these recipes into three main categories: vegetable risottos, fish risottos, and meat risottos.

A vegetable risotto, such as one prepared with lemon, fresh herbs, and asparagus, will require a wine that is not too acidic, fruity, and fresh, with a supple character and a touch of body to balance the flavors of fresh, slightly acidic risottos. Preparations with mushrooms will call for a more alcoholic and full-bodied wine, or even a red wine for porcini or truffles.
Fish-based risottos, such as a shrimp and avocado risotto, pair wonderfully with a mineral, fruity white wine whose slightly crisp character will cut through the richness of the risotto. If you add spices like curry, be sure to choose a more refreshing white or rosé, but still fruity and lively.
For risottos with meat such as pancetta or Parma ham, opt for a young, crisp, and light red wine. It will cut through the richness of the dish and pair perfectly with this type of risotto.

Finally, if you are making a risotto made only with cheese, always go for a fairly lively white wine, and why not a red wine with a bit of character without being too powerful.

Which wines and appellations should we focus on?

For vegetable risottos, go for a fresh and mineral white wine, a little lively though, like a Loire white or for example a Vouvray .
For meat-based risottos, opt for light red wines like a Beaujolais , or head towards Bordeaux or the Loire Valley.
Fish-based dishes, such as shrimp and avocado risotto, pair beautifully with a crisp, mineral white wine , like some Alsatian whites. You could also try, for example, a Château de Prémeaux white Burgundy! If you're using spices, opt for a white wine with refreshing notes, such as an Alsatian Pinot Blanc, which would be a perfect match.
For a cheese-based preparation, the Tradition Blanc from Château Darlay will always be there to seduce you, but also for a wine like a Domaine de Venus in Côte du Roussillon .

The risotto

The fabulous Italian risotto! A traditional Italian recipe, risotto never ceases to delight us with its many different preparations, inspired by all corners of the world. Originating after the first rice paddies in the Po Valley region of Italy towards the end of the 15th century, risotto only began its international expansion around the 1970s.
So what exactly is risotto? First and foremost, it's a dish made with special rice varieties like Carnaroli or Vialone Nano. This rice is cooked by gradually adding broth, allowing it to absorb water thanks to its high starch content. Parmesan cheese is added at the end of cooking to thicken the dish and create that delicate sauce that gives it its unique charm. We love risotto in the summer, perhaps a little fresh with lemon, herbs, and asparagus. And what goes better with risotto (and summer) than wine! Italy is a renowned wine-producing country, so they haven't forgotten to pair this dish with wine.