I am not a troll, a philistine or even a shaven ape. I am a man who happens to think that pizza is the food of the gods. I’ve devoured it in Naples, via a magic van that appears in my neighbourhood and at James Martin’s house, from the hands of some of Britain’s greatest chefs – albeit a little the worse for wear. But while a cold beer is the simplest option to sip alongside, pick the perfect wine and turn your pizza into a slice of paradise.
Seafood pizzas, along with spinach-laden combos, are the province of white wine and you could splash out on Le Colombare Gavi di Gavi 2016 for £16 in Sainsbury’s, which is piercingly splendid, with lemony loveliness and winner of an impressive trophy at the International Wine Challenge.
But for sheer value to glug on a week night, it’s tough to beat Marks & Spencer Vino Tavola Bianco 2016 (12%) for just £5, which is a peachy steal of a wine.
While a cold beer is the simplest option to sip alongside, pick the perfect wine and turn your pizza into a slice of paradise
As for your margherita oozing with tomato sauce, if you’re setting Peroni aside, this calls for a red that’s got decent zip without being too heavy.
Chianti works well for a safe bet, but if you want to go all out, I was blown away by the silken elegance of La Venga, Benaco Bresciano Rosso 2015 (13%), which is £19 at bbr.com. It’s blended from the light red grape Marzemino and the tangy Barbera – it’s a must-taste bottle from south of Lake Garda.
But there’s plenty of good-value red around if you’re planning a takeaway this week, in particular from Sicily. For a bargain, Tesco Nero D’Avola 2016 (14%) is a decent Sicilian for £5, or try the absolute beauty I found at Lidl – see panel, right – from the same island. What a gem!
As for fizz, a cold bottle of Prosecco is bang on to quench as an all-rounder, or if you’re feeling flush, grab a Franciacorta by producers such as Bellavista, whose bottles can be found at thefinewinecompany.co.uk. Tesco Finest Franciacorta (12.5%) is reduced from £15 to £12 until February 12 – effervescence all the way!
Bang on to bring out the best in your scrumptious slice.