Champagne and Pasta Pairings

This year, both Champagne Day and World Pasta Day fall on Friday, October 25. So, with 52% of Brits eating pasta at least once a week*, and the UK being the second largest export market for Champagne, what better way to celebrate this household staple than pairing your favourite pasta dish with a glass of Champagne?

Choosing the correct Champagne style is essential when it comes to pairing, although this can be tricky, particularly when it comes to different ingredients, flavours, and aromas. Therefore, the Champagne Bureau UK** has selected five pasta dishes to pair with a variety of Champagne styles, for you to try at home or enjoy at a restaurant.

 

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese with Champagne Rosé

Champagne Rosé wines can range from soft to deep pink in colour, and from very light to full-bodied in taste. As a result, these wines are versatile, producing a range of aromas and flavours that make them perfect for pairing with a number of different foods.

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese is a great pasta dish to pair with Champagne Rosé. A paler pink wine with lighter fruity and floral notes will provide a contrast to the depth of the Bolognese, whilst a darker pink wine, with empyreumatic aromas, such as toasted and roasted scents, will balance the dish’s rich flavours very nicely.

 

Linguine alle Vongole with Champagne Blanc de Blancs

The term ‘Blanc de Blancs’ refers to wines made purely of white grape varieties, such as Chardonnay, Arbane, and Petit Meslier. This produces light, refreshing wines with notes of white flowers, citrus, and exotic fruits.

Champagne Blanc de Blancs is an ideal choice for pairing with linguine alle vongole, as the acidity of the wine cuts through heavy foods, which elevates the taste of the clams. Also, the notes of hazelnuts and almonds that develop as a Blanc de Blancs matures complement the simple flavour of the dish, whilst the bubbles and creamy texture associated with the Champagne contrast against the tenderness of the clams.

 

Spaghetti alla Carbonara with Champagne Brut

Champagne Brut is a classic option, but one that is multi-faceted, making it versatile and simple to pair with a variety of dishes.

Champagne Brut pairs excellently with spaghetti alla carbonara, due to the balance between the wine and the sweet flavour of the dish. Also, the presence of carbon dioxide in the Champagne helps cut through the rich flavours of a carbonara, harmonizing against the fat components of the sauce.

 

Bucatini all’Amatriciana with Champagne Blanc de Noirs

The name ‘Blanc de Noirs’ refers to a Champagne made only from black grape varieties, such as Pinot Noir and Meunier. The result of this is that Champagne Blanc de Noirs has vinosity – a more powerful body that creates the sensation of heat on the palate.

Champagne Blanc de Noirs has complex notes, generally comprised of red fruits, flowers, vanilla, pepper, and cinnamon. These aromas complement the rich, fatty, and salty flavours of bucatini all’amatriciana, with the wine’s softer acidity pairing well with the pasta itself, as well as the tomatoes in the sauce. This acidity is also great for balancing against the richness of the guanciale used in the sauce.

 

Trofie al Pesto with Champagne Blanc de Blancs

As a Champagne Blanc de Blancs is produced only from white grapes, this is the perfect pairing for a green, basil pesto. Fresh pesto tends to have a strong, herbaceous flavour, and therefore, the unassuming profile of a Blanc de Blancs allows the dish to shine, whilst simultaneously bringing about floral aromas of white flowers, lime blossom, rose, and violet, as well as fruity notes, such as citrus, red, and yellow fruits. The acidity of the wine also helps to cut through the flavour of the basil, therefore creating the perfect balance between the Champagne and the trofie al pesto.

 

*According to a recent survey by Pasta Evangelists.

**The Champagne Bureau UK is the trade association of Comité Champagne in the UK, representing houses and growers in Champagne.

Photo credit: Image belongs to Comité Champagne and Glass of Bubbly was granted permission to use it.