If you're like many culinary consumers, you consider pizza and beer to be a classic combination that can't be beaten. Although a cold beer is certainly an excellent adult beverage choice when a well-prepared custom pizza is on the table, wine lovers shouldn't feel that they're being left out in the cold. Pairing wine and pizza is a little more difficult than choosing a beer to drink with it because normal wine pairing strategies aren't easily applied. 

For instance, conventional wisdom says that white wine goes with chicken, fish, and other white meat while red wine goes with steak, lamb, and other red meat, but it's a bit more difficult to pin pizza down. This is because pizza typically has multiple ingredients, as well as sauces and cheeses that change their entire flavor profile. However, pairing wine and pizza can be successfully accomplished, and once you find a combination you love, you'll probably never want to go back to beer again. The following are three strategies designed to inspire those seeking to make a great wine pairing choice on their next pizza night.

Consider Mediterranean Wine

Because food and wine evolved together, wines produced from grapes grown in specific regions pair exceptionally well with local foods. Pizza as you know it began its culinary journey as a street food in Naples. It was a particular favorite of day laborers. Because of this, you might want to wash your pizza down with a big glass of Chianti. Chianti is a medium-bodied red wine that goes well with any pizza that has a red sauce as its base. 

Consider the Color of the Cheese

Cheese color is also a consideration. As with meat, the lighter the color of the cheese, the lighter the wine should be. Pizza made with lots of mozzarella cheese, for instance, goes great with a medium white wine such as pinot gris. Pizza made with cheddar cheese, on the other hand, needs a richer wine like merlot or cabernet. 

Consider Sparkling Wine

If you need a quick pairing that's virtually guaranteed not to fail, consider opening a bottle of sparkling wine to enjoy with your pizza. Sparkling wine literally goes with any type of food, and as an added bonus, it brings an unexpected festive note to the table. Custom pizza offers a lot of opportunities to explore unconventional wine pairings, so don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with as many pizza and wine combinations as possible. 

To learn more, contact a resource that offers customized pizzas.