We normally recommend a spicy California Zinfandel when pairing wine with pizza.
But at New York City’s Marta restaurant, master sommelier Jack Mason has curated a list of around 50 sparkling wines to complement the Roman-style pizzas made there.
“The Champagne has bright acidity that’s very refreshing,” Mason told Food and Wine magazine. “When you take a bite of pizza topped with salty cheese and a tangy red sauce, then have a sip of rosé Champagne, it’s just explosive.”
I put Mason and Marta to the test last weekend, using a bottle of Prosecco left over from my wedding in late October. We poured it alongside a Margherita pizza — a crispy crust topped with a thin layer of tomato sauce, a sprinkling of fresh mozzarella and some chopped basil leaves.
In a word, the pairing was pure perfection. Okay, that’s two words. And the Prosecco wasn’t even a rosé.
If you’d like to try out this pairing, check out today’s Vinesse sparkling wine sampler, and then bring home or make your own Margherita pizza. It’s a pairing I’d never even thought of until I read about Marta restaurant. Now, I can’t wait to go there.
