Crosta Mollica and sommelier Honey Spencer reveal the art of pairing Italian pizza with wine

The Italian food brand has partnered with award winning sommelier Honey Spencer to create a new guide exploring four regional pizzas and the wines that complement them.

Italian food brand Crosta Mollica has joined forces with British sommelier Honey Spencer to explore one of Italy's most enduring culinary traditions: pairing pizza with wine.

Their new guide, A Pairing Perfetto, takes inspiration from four Italian regions, bringing together Crosta Mollica's Collezione Romana pizza collection with wines selected to complement their distinctive ingredients.

The collaboration challenges the familiar assumption that pizza is best accompanied by a full bodied red, instead exploring everything from crisp coastal whites to lighter Italian reds.

Spencer, an award winning sommelier, restaurateur and author, has worked in internationally recognised restaurants including Noma Mexico, Sager & Wilde and Evelyn's Table. She is also cofounder of the London restaurant Sune and author of Natural Wine, No Drama.

"Pizza and wine are two of Italy's greatest pleasures, and what makes them so exciting is how the flavours change from region to region," Spencer said.

"It's been a joy discovering how the right glass can bring out something new in each pizza."

Four Italian pizzas, four wine pairings

The guide centres on Crosta Mollica's Collezione Romana range, made using thin, crisp sourdough bases proved slowly for 24 hours.

Each pizza draws inspiration from a different Italian culinary tradition, with Spencer selecting wines that either complement or contrast with its ingredients.

Portofino with Vermentino

Inspired by the Ligurian coast, Portofino combines sweet yellow tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and basil.

Spencer recommends Vermentino, a crisp white wine with citrus and mineral characteristics that complement the tomatoes while balancing the richness of the mozzarella.

She suggests serving it chilled between 7°C and 10°C. For something less familiar, Pigato offers a fuller alternative from Liguria.

Bolzano with Montepulciano

The Bolzano pizza takes inspiration from northern Italy, combining salsiccia sausage, balsamic red onion and rosemary.

Its recommended pairing is Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a smooth red whose dark fruit flavours and gentle tannins complement the richness of the sausage.

Spencer suggests serving it slightly chilled. Alternatively, Teroldego, a distinctive Alpine red, offers another option for those seeking a wine that works with the pizza's spiced flavours.

Bosco di Alba with Barbera

Featuring truffle, woodland mushrooms and roasted garlic crema, Bosco di Alba draws on the culinary traditions of Piemonte.

Spencer pairs it with Barbera, a red wine whose acidity and cherry characteristics provide contrast to the pizza's earthy, rich ingredients.

She recommends serving it between 13°C and 16°C.

For those who prefer white wine, Timorasso, a lesser known grape from Piemonte, offers an alternative particularly suited to truffle dishes.

Toscana with Sangiovese

The newest pizza in the collection brings together red wine and fennel salamis, pecorino cream, smoked provola, cavolo nero and sweet fig salsa.

Spencer recommends Sangiovese, whose acidity balances the cheeses and sweetness of the fig while complementing the fennel.

A classic Chianti is another option, offering savoury red fruit flavours and a refreshing contrast to the pizza's richer ingredients.

Bringing Italian dining traditions home

The collaboration reflects growing interest in recreating restaurant experiences at home, with greater attention paid to ingredients, preparation and the drinks served alongside food.

Rather than focusing exclusively on expensive or prestigious wines, Spencer's recommendations demonstrate how regional grape varieties can transform familiar dishes.

Giacomo Coin, Senior Product Manager at Crosta Mollica, said the collaboration was intended to celebrate the relationship between Italian food and wine.

"There's something really special about the way Italians bring food and wine together, and we wanted to capture that feeling through this collaboration."

He added that working with Spencer had allowed the company to explore the flavours and regional influences behind its pizzas beyond the plate.

Where to find the collection

Crosta Mollica's four Collezione Romana pizzas are priced at £8.50 each.

Portofino is available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Ocado and Waitrose, while Bolzano can be found at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Bosco di Alba is stocked at Tesco and Sainsbury's, while Toscana is available at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado, with Waitrose availability beginning on 18 November.

The wines recommended by Spencer can be found through major UK retailers and independent wine merchants.

With A Pairing Perfetto, Crosta Mollica and Spencer offer a reminder that pairing food and wine need not be complicated. Sometimes, understanding the flavours of a particular region is enough to turn an ordinary dinner into something more memorable.

Image credit: Nauris Buksevics.