There is something special about a delicious slice of pizza paired with the perfect glass of wine. Sure, most imagine a pizza night filled with family game nights and pitchers of cola or singles chugging beer. The magic of a perfect slice and grappa cannot be understated and is not to be ignored. I imagine one reason not many people take to enjoying pizza and wine as often as they would any other beverage of choice. The wrong wine pairing can quickly turn someone off the idea of not only the wine and pizza combo but that particular wine in addition. The mismatch can be devastating.
I’m not suggesting that people run out and purchase the most expensive bottle of red they can find at the local grocery store. Not every wine will work, regardless of its price tag. Knowing which wine blend goes with what pizza toppings is critical! So many wines claim to go well with pizza, but they may base the flavor profile compatibility on a simple cheese pizza versus a specialty pie. That Malbec might work great with pepperoni pizza, but I hope you didn’t add anchovies. I’m not a Sommelier by any means, but I like wine. I like pizza. I’ve made many mistakes in the past, but I can assure you, pairing the Brian Song from Pizza Pie Guys with Apothic Red? Game changer!
When a wine descriptor tells you there are “notes of cocoa and caramel, I expect to taste a piece of Riesen candy. I want what I am being sold. This is the magic of a proper wine and food pairing; when a wine has met its match, both are at their best. It’s like a marriage. The best ones always have two people who are good on their own (or not) but are made more dynamic as a couple. Brian and Apothic are the best versions of local chef genius and New World red blend excellence. They are both young and scrappy. Rife with teenaged angst while staying true to what matters most in tradition- authenticity. From the Apothic Red, I get black peppery notes dripping with dark berry juice just before coming to a sultry mocha-like finish on the back of the tongue. Brian’s Song has pepperoni rolled thick and cut thin that has been tucked generously between tangy mozzarella and sharp parmesan cheese. The crust is not overly seasoned or baked, making it easy on the mouth with a satisfying crunch of an edge. With the Pie and the Wine, you really do get the best of all worlds.
Medium tannins are made softer from the soft cream cheese of the pizza sauce. If the pie sauce had only tomato and herbs in its base, the flavor of the wine would be completely different. The cream cheese on Brian’s Song provides the right fat level to coat the palate, reducing the high acidity of the wine. This allows for a smoother finish that begs you to take another bite, rinse with more wine, and repeat. I found myself wishing we had purchased a second pizza. When the pepperoni meets the black pepper notes in the Apothic Red, they embrace each other gently as if saying hello to a long-lost friend. These two strong elements work harmoniously instead of fighting for center stage. Had the pepperoni been sliced any thicker or cooked any less than the kiss of char surrounding its edges, this spicy rendezvous would have burned out faster than expected.
I’ve written reviews of restaurants in the past, but it has been a long time since I have been moved to talk about it from the heart. I’ve lived in Omaha for just over 2 years, and there have not been many places that have moved me enough to write a review over, but I felt moved tonight. It was almost a spiritual experience. I am making it a goal to now play Matchmaker with each Pie on the Pizza Pie Guys menu, and together with my spouse, we will find the perfect pairing for pizza sharing.
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