Lasagna: An Iconic Italian Dish

Lasagna is an iconic recipe of Italian cuisine, widely enjoyed by everyone in France. It's a flavorful and convivial dish. In Italy, the favorite recipe is, of course, lasagna alla bolognese. This recipe features layers of pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, onions, béchamel sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Many other versions exist, such as lasagna with salmon and cream, or vegetarian lasagna with vegetables and ricotta. This quintessential Italian dish can be paired with a fine bottle of French wine. In this article, discover which wines to pair with lasagna and the best food and wine pairings.

What Wine to Pair with Bolognese Lasagna?

Bolognese lasagna is the emblematic and traditional version of lasagna in Italy. It consists of several layers of fresh pasta, minced beef or veal, tomato sauce, and béchamel. This dish is savory and rich in flavor. As a typical Mediterranean dish, it pairs well with red wines from the South. You can accompany your bolognese lasagna with a red wine from a Corsican estate or the Rhône Valley. Don’t hesitate to choose a Côtes du Rhône wine with red fruit notes that perfectly complement the juicy red meat and the caramelized tomato sauce.

It is also possible to enjoy a Côtes de Provence with your meat lasagna. This type of wine offers smooth and fruity characteristics that balance the Italian recipe. Finally, you can also pair your homemade bolognese lasagna with a Beaujolais cru. Made from Gamay, Beaujolais wines offer smooth tannins and red fruit notes. Their lightness pairs perfectly with bolognese lasagna.

What Wine to Pair with Creamy Salmon Lasagna?

For all fish lovers, creamy salmon lasagna is a highly appreciated recipe. This dish is made with fresh lasagna sheets, béchamel, cheese, salmon, and sometimes spinach. This fish-based dish pairs very well with a bottle of white wine. Salmon is a fatty fish with a delicate texture. To enhance its flavor, you can choose a lively and floral wine. Opting for a wine with good minerality will balance the richness of the fish and béchamel. You can also choose a wine from Burgundy, such as Chablis or Mâcon. The Loire Valley also offers excellent wines to pair with fish lasagna. A Sancerre wine, with citrus notes and a vibrant character, pairs wonderfully with salmon lasagna.

What Wine to Enjoy with Vegetarian Lasagna?

If you prefer not to eat meat or are vegetarian, you can opt for lasagna with vegetables and ricotta. Vegetarian lasagna can be made with various vegetables: tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, spinach, zucchini. This type of original recipe can be paired with white wine. Preferably choose a fruity and floral white wine to complement the flavors of the vegetables and cheese. You might choose a white wine from the Rhône Valley, made from Marsanne and Roussanne.

It is also possible to enjoy rosé wine with vegetarian lasagna. Your Mediterranean vegetable lasagna can be paired with a rosé from Provence or Languedoc-Roussillon. Fresh and fruity, this type of wine pairs well with vegetables and tomato sauce.

Emblematic of Italian cuisine, lasagna is a very versatile dish. You can pair your bolognese lasagna with a fruity and smooth red wine, while fish lasagna will be enhanced by a lively white wine. For vegetable lasagna, you can enjoy rosé or white wine. Discover the best cuvées and appellations to pair with your homemade recipes and create successful food and wine pairings on Avenue des Vins.