Pizza and Champagne – The Perfect Pairing

Whether celebrating with your own homemade pizza, a takeaway or shop brought, the Champagne Bureau UK have created tips on how to pair various styles of Champagne with the UK’s most popular pizza toppings.

According to Foodhub, the online food ordering platform, the top five pizza toppings in the UK are: Pepperoni, Margherita, Meat Feast, Vegetarian and Donner Pizza. The list was created following a staggering eight million pizza orders placed via the app determining which pizzas are our nations favourite.

Pairing Champagne with pizza may be a surprising choice but see suggestions below on why Champagne is the perfect match to celebrate National Pizza Day this year.

Four-cheese and Blanc de Noirs

A four-cheese pizza typically topped with a blue cheese, a soft cheese and a hard cheese, as well as Mozzarella tends to pair well with a Blanc de Noirs. Produced entirely from black grape varieties such as Pinot Noir or Meunier, Blanc de Noirs gives the impression of power, density and structure and has what is known as “vinosity” – the sensation of heat on the palate. The sharp flavour of the four-cheese pizza gives an interesting contrast to the delicious notes of juicy dark fruits in the Champagne, creating a complex balance in taste.

Vegetarian and Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Vegetarian pizzas often contain a whole host of umami flavours including mushrooms and aubergines and are a great accompaniment to a Champagne Blanc de Blancs. Made entirely from white grapes, Blanc de Blancs are bright and refreshing and all about finesse. With notes of white flowers (hawthorn, honeysuckle, linden, acacia, jasmine and orange blossom), citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemon) and exotic fruits – Champagne Blanc de Blancs are excellent at complementing the savoury umami flavours.

Pepperoni and Vintage

Of course, a glass of Vintage Champagne, of any style, can be enjoyed independently. However, a Vintage style will elevate the enjoyment of a tasty pepperoni pizza. We would opt for a Champagne Vintage Blanc de Noirs. In a similar way to the four-cheese pairing, the vinosity and body of the Champagne Blanc de Noirs would cut through the fattiness and powerful flavours of the pepperoni.

Margherita and Champagne Brut NV

The Margherita pizza, a timeless classic and crowd favourite would be the perfect companion to a Champagne Brut NV – the most popular Champagne style. Each Champagne Brut’s aromas and flavours are distinct due to it being a blended wine (the grape variety is the winemaker’s choice), making it incredibly versatile and multi-faceted.  

Ham and Pineapple and Rosé

Ham and Pineapple on pizza is a topping widely discussed and questioned. However, pairing this pizza with Rosé Champagne is sure to solidify this pizza’s status. Vibrantly coloured, diverse, and simply elegant, with lively fruity aromas, Rosé Champagne is most often obtained by blending white and red grapes. This gives it a flamboyant joyfulness, featuring notes of freshness (citrus fruits and wild strawberries) or complex wild berry fruit notes, which perfectly compliment the sweet and citrusy pineapple.