Negroamaro is a red wine grape variety that is grown in the Puglia region of Italy. It is one of the most widely grown grape varieties in the region and is often used to produce full-bodied red wines with flavours of dark fruit, such as black cherry and blackberry, as well as hints of spice and sometimes a slightly bitter finish. Like Primitivo from Puglia, Negroamaro is slightly rustic and “rough around the edges” in character. These wines can be very dark in color, and full of mouth-drying tannins.
For a completely authentic experience, Negroamaro is best paired with tomato-rich Italian cuisine, from the so-called “heel of the Italian boot”. However, Negroamaro wines are known for their ability to pair well with a variety of foods, including grilled meats and strong cheeses.
Meat That Pairs Well With Negroamaro
Negroamaro is a bold, teeth-staining sort of red wine, so it is at its very best when paired with meaty dishes. Think along the lines of rich, comforting and slightly unrefined. A spaghetti dish with meatballs would be wonderful with a glass of Negroamaro, connecting the dots between the wine’s fruity character and its underbelly of dried herbs.
Pizza with pepperoni or barbecued chicken is a solid choice, as are your classic red wine pairings, like steak or beef bourguignon. Negroamaro contains more than enough tannins to stand up to a fatty cut of lamb, or something rich and gamey like wild boar.
Cheese That Pairs Well With Negroamaro
As we said earlier, Negroamaro is best when paired with authentic Italian cuisine. Luckily for us, there’s a host of Italian cheese to choose from, and most of it is available in any decent supermarket. Hard, sharp cheeses are fabulous with Negroamaro. Think about pairing it with Parmesan, which brings a nutty, savory flavour to proceedings and meshes well with the dark fruits in the wine. For more of a contrast, you can pull out a salty chunk of Pecorino, which makes the wine taste all the more vibrant.
If you don’t enjoy hard cheeses, just look for soft sharp cheeses instead. Gorgonzola is worth a look at, and it’s hard to go wrong with red wine and mature Cheddar.
Appetizers That Pair Well With Negroamaro
There are a lot of savory snacks that pair well with Negroamaro – and most of them come from Italy. Cheesy crostini or tomato bruschetta are the obvious choices. However, you can also think about kicking off your evening with deep-fried arancini, meatballs in tomato sauce, or a Caprese salad. Negroamaro is a strong, versatile wine and can match hearty, savory dishes as well as sharp acidic ones.
Vegetarian Dishes That Pair Well With Negroamaro
While Negroamaro is a natural pairing for meat, all is not lost if you’re vegetarian. The rustic nature of the wine is ideal for vegetarian dishes. Something as simple as a grilled veggie kebab will be delicious, even with some charring from the grill.
Stuffing vegetables is a good way to pack a lot of flavour into a vegetarian dish. Stuffed peppers and stuffed roast potatoes are worth considering, and you can fill them according to your personal taste.
If you want to go truly Italian though, it’s difficult to beat eggplant parmesan. Hearty, filling and held together by wonderfully chewy bits of mozzarella, this classic dish really unlocks Negroamaro’s full potential.
Herbs That Pair Well With Negroamaro
Negroamaro can often have underlying notes of dried herbs, so it’s a perfect pairing for herby dishes and can handle a fair amount of spice too. Try using basil and balsamic vinegar when you cook, as well as pungent herbs like thyme, rosemary and bay leaf.
Food That Does Not Pair Well With Negroamaro
Negroamaro can be quite a serious, brooding wine, so it’s not recommended to pair it with delicate foods. You want dishes with a lot of character. Light seafood such as scallops or flakey white fish is best avoided, as are dishes with a lot of citrus flavours, like ceviche.
Best Foods To Eat With Negroamaro
Negroamaro is perhaps the wine that best represents the scorching heel of the Italian boot. It’s in its element when enjoyed alongside Italian cuisine, particularly meals that can be described as hearty and filling.
- Spaghetti with meatballs
- Eggplant parmesan
- Parmesan or Pecorino
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Beef
