Pairing Wine With Porchetta

If you are a pork lover and have not tried Porchetta (pronounced por-ketta), you should move it to the top of your list. This Italian favorite translates to “little pig” and is usually made by roasting a whole big, but is also often made from pork belly, shoulder, or loin cuts. The pork is wrapped in fat and skin and generously seasoned with fennel, salt and black pepper, rosemary, sage and thyme, and then roasted until the pork is juicy and the skin is crisp and crackling. The Porchetta is then cut in slices and served as a sandwich on Italian bread.

Now that your mouth is watering, let’s talk about wine. There’s no one rule when it comes to pork. Red or white wines will both work, you just need to be selective in what you choose. We have some great recommendations that are sure to elevate your Porchetta experience.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Porchetta

White Wine Characteristics

Characteristic	Detail
Acidity	High
Tannins	Low
Fruitiness	Medium-high
Sweetness	Low-Medium
Body	Light-Medium

Red Wine Characteristics

Characteristic	Detail
Acidity	Medium-High
Tannins	Low
Fruitiness	High
Spiciness	Low
Body	Light

Best White Wine to Pair with Porchetta

Sauvignon Blanc

If you prefer white wine, look no further than Sauvignon Blanc. Brimming with acidity, it will cut through the rich, fatty meat and have you coming back for more. Notes of Honeydew, White Peach and Grapefruit and herby aromatics make it a perfect pairing for Porchetta.

Viognier

Viognier is a great pairing with roasted pork. This medium-bodied wine is a great alternative to Chardonnay and offers light fruit flavours of tangerine and peach with bold, floral aromatics.

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is a lighter white with high acidity. You can expect to find flavours of yellow apple and pear, along with subtle notes of chamomile and honey. It does a wonderful job of balancing herb-heavy dishes.

Sparkling Rosé

The crisp acidity and light body of a sparkling Rosé make it a great option for pairing with Porchetta. The acidity balances the richness of the pork while the berry flavours enhance the flavour of the meat.

Best Red Wine to Pair with Porchetta

Grenache

Also known as Garnacha in Spain, this delicious red is a match made in heaven with roasted meats. It’s bursting with fruit and the notes of dried herb and leather add complexity. It is on the high side in terms of alcohol content, but also offers a decent amount of acidity.

Beaujolais

Beaujolais is a perfect partner to Porchetta as it has all the attributes we are looking for in a pairing: Light-bodied, high acidity, and low in tannins, it is rich in red fruit flavours but has enough earthy quality to match the herbs in the meat.

Dolcetto

A classic “food wine” of Italy, Dolcetto is medium bodied with moderate acidity. It is full of fruit flavour like plum and blackberry, with notes of black pepper. This wine goes well with rich, fatty meats like pork belly.

Sangiovese

Sangiovese is a departure from the other reds on this list. It is a medium-bodied red, but its high acidity and notes of oregano, tomato, and dark fruit make it a great companion to the herbaceous Porchetta.

Pinot Noir

A cool climate Pinot Noir, think Oregon or France, is a wonderful option. The cool climate brings out the acidity and lowers the alcohol, leaving you a light-bodied, fruity red that will balance all the flavours in your Porchetta.

Best Wine to Drink with Porchetta

When it comes to Porchetta, you can easily go red or white. Just make sure your whites are crisp with acidity and your reds are juicy with fruit.